Think you know all of the rail adventures in California? Think again! There are so many scattered throughout the state.
And we're here to help you find them. Come join us.
The goal of the website is to help families and railroad enthusiasts find train adventures throughout California without any hassle. Whether you are a young railfan, just starting your journey, or a seasoned railbuff, there's something here for everyone.
Goal of Railfanfam
Mission of Railfanfam
We've made it our mission to discover and explore as many rail adventures in California as possible. And then share it with all of you so that you can discover and explore too.
Come join the fam—the railfanfam—and enjoy the scenic ride. Sit back, relax, and let us become your own personal railroad conductor. All aboard!
We've traveled all around the great state of California in search of exciting train experiences. As we track down new places, we add them to our list. The list has grown throughout the years to include places we've visited and the ones we have yet see. In order to help people like us, we've turned this list into an interactive map and detailed directory. As we locate new train destinations, both big and small, the map will be updated and the directory will be expanded. The site is a work-in-progress and will continuously be improved as we unearth new train adventures. Here's a glance of what we have found so far: (note: if places fall under multiple categories, they are double-counted)
Key Numbers at a Glance
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Heritage railways, excursion trains, miniature trains, live steamers, amusement park trains, monorails, cablecars, streetcars, funiculars, and more!
What will we explore next? Spots for safe train-spotting, train-themed restaurants, accommodations, railbikes, playgrounds, commuter trains, and other railroad-forward adventures.
36
HO Scale, N Scale, Lionel, G Scale, and Toy Train Museums.
Museums dedicated to specific railroads, train heritage, local rail history, national train history, and beyond.
Train* Rides
Model Railroads
Train* Museums
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Others
*train / trān /
train (noun) · trains (plural noun)
Per Merriam-Webster Dictionary: a connected line of railroad cars with or without a locomotive.
Per Railfanfam: anything that moves on tracks that isn't a rollercoaster. I promise we know the difference, but here the term is used interchangeably to refer to all rail-related adventures including trolleys, funiculars, cable cars, motorcars, streetcars, railbikes, and other vehicles that travel by rail that may only have one unit.
Latest Adventures
Join the Family
Become part of our railfan community! Join us as we explore the nostalgic tracks and vibrant landscapes of California's railroads. While the interactive map is available for everyone to explore, subscribers will have access to detailed information and tips about over 140 rail experiences (and counting!) as well as our blog, itinaries, scavenger hunts, and more.
