Over Memorial Day weekend, May 24–26, the farmyard at Ardenwood will be full of model trains of all sizes as Ardenwood’s Railroad Museum brings out some of their rarest historic railroad cars so visitors can see them up close.
The Bay Area Garden Railway Society will bring a variety of real-scale steam locomotives to operate. These small but mighty engines work exactly like a full-size steam engine (Saturday and Sunday only).
Diablo Pacific Shortline’s large modular G-scale railroad has both freight and passenger trains, as well as a Thomas the Tank Engine train. This railroad is built low to the ground so the littlest railroad fans can follow the trains around this huge layout.
The California Central Coast On30 Railroad will also be back with their wonderful On30 scale layout. And the Golden State Toy Train Operators will bring their Lionel toy trains layout.
Besides the train layouts, there will be other activities for the children such as stilts and tabletop games. And for toddlers there is a special spot set aside with multiple wooden trains that they can play with; or parents can sit in the shade with their children and enjoy the Train Book Library.
Of course there will be great music too! Favorite musicians will return to the farm each day of the weekend. The California State Old-Time Fiddlers will play traditional American string band music, including many rare old fiddle tunes and lots of Appalachian-style music on Saturday. The Apple Butter Brothers will play American folk music with an emphasis on train songs on Sunday.
And on Monday is a very special women fiddlers group made up of players from The California State Old-Time Fiddlers and the Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association.
Railroad Museum volunteers will also be restoring the floor of the 140-year-old “picnic” car, which will be added to the museum’s passenger train again when finished. The museum’s first steam locomotive, Kiso Forest Railway No. 9, will also be on display. The magnificent Patterson House will be open for tours on all three days.
Tickets are on sale in advance through Friday, May 23 (no online ticket sales on event days). On event days tickets will be sold at the gate (credit cards preferred, cash accepted). Parking is free.
NOTE: Activities vary daily. All activities and times will be included in the event handout at the park entrance.
Rail Fair is presented in conjunction with the East Bay Regional Park District, which operates Ardenwood Historic Farm.
This event is presented by the all-volunteer Railroad Museum at Ardenwood, operated by the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. www.spcrr.org.
Rail Fair
Saturday, May 24 – Monday, May 26
10am – 4pm (children activities close at 3:30pm)
Ardenwood Historic Farm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont
Admission: $16/Adults (18+); $14/Seniors (62+); $13/Children (4–17); 3 and under Free
