Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (Sierra Railway)
Jamestown, Tuolumne County, California. State Park; April through October.
Details
- Where
- 10501 Reservoir Rd, Jamestown, CA 10501. Directions
- When
- Saturdays and Sundays 10:30 a.m.; Noon; 1:30 p.m.; and 3 p.m.
- Getting there
- The park is located in Jamestown, 3-miles south of Sonora, at Sierra Av & 9th St.
- Fees
- Adult Museum Entry Fee: $5.00; Youth Museum Entry Fee: $3.00; Child (5 & Under) Museum Entry Fee: Free.
- Hours
- April through October, open daily 9:30am to 4:30pm; November through March, open daily 10:00am to 3:00pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
- Access
- Dogs are allowed outdoors and must be on a leash at all times.
- Walk-in or reserve
- Tickets are sold per person and include park admission.
- Phone
- (209) 984-3953
- Website
- railtown1897.org
- Managed by
- California State Parks with the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation as official cooperating organization.
- Established
- 1897.
A working steam-era railroad from California's past with historic trains, maintenance shops, roundhouse, and stories that span industry, communities, and film history.
Notable Events
- 1897The shops began operation and later remained the Sierra Railroad's main shops until 1955. ohp.parks.ca.gov
- 1920sThe park began being used as scenery for films and television series. oac.cdlib.org
- 1935Sierra Railway reorganized and became the Sierra Railroad Company. oac.cdlib.org
- 1939Routine passenger services were discontinued. oac.cdlib.org
- 1955Sierra Railroad bought its first diesel locomotives, prompting the depot's retirement as a working facility. oac.cdlib.org
- 1957Steam enthusiasts chartered excursion trains until a 1963 derailment ended the service. oac.cdlib.org
- 1971Railtown 1897 opened as a historically themed tourist attraction with steam-powered train rides on the Jamestown Depot property. oac.cdlib.org
- 1980The Sierra Railroad discontinued passenger services on January 1, 1980. oac.cdlib.org
- 1982California acquired the Jamestown railyard and rolling stock from Sierra Railway by legislative mandate. oac.cdlib.org
- 1983The state transferred ownership of Railtown 1897 to the California Department of Parks and Recreation. oac.cdlib.org
- 1992The California State Railroad Museum and Foundation began operating the concessions at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park. oac.cdlib.org
- 2014Registration date: August 28, 2014. ohp.parks.ca.gov
People
- Andre Poniatowski, Founder of the Sierra Railway Company of California (1897).
- Thomas S. Bullock, Founder of the Sierra Railway Company of California (1897).
- William H. Crocker, Founder of the Sierra Railway Company of California (1897).