Sonoma Train Town

Sonoma Train Town has been called "The Most Well-Developed Scale Railroad in the Americas." It features quarter-scale replicas of yesteryear's trains that travel on a one-and-a-quarter-mile 15-inch gauge track. In total there are four different locomotives in use two steam engines and two diesels. They include an 1875 Baldwin Mogul 2-6-0 by Winton Engineering, a 1927 Hudson 5212, and two SW1200 versions.

Visitors can ride in open rail cars on a tour of over 10 heavily wooded acres. A miniature caboose brings up the rear as the train passes through tunnels and over bridges and trestles. Small waterfalls can be seen along the way, and the train makes one stop at a model town called Lakeville, where all of the buildings are one-half size.

Apart from riding the rails, visitors to Sonoma Train Town can climb to the top of a 47-foot clock tower to take in the view from an observation platform, which is a replica of Oakland's old 16th Street Train Depot. Other attractions include a petting zoo and various amusement park rides, such as the Iron Horse Carousel, a Ferris wheel, Train Town Airlines, the Scrambler, a swing chair, and a roller coaster.

Sonoma Train Town is located at 20264 Broadway, Sonoma, California 95476. It is open Friday through Saturday from September through May and daily the rest of the year. Operation hours are from 10am to 5pm. General Admission and parking are free; tickets for the train ride cost $4.75 per person.