I didn't get to post this last month. On the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, we went to the Rail Fair at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont. The Rail Fair has been permanently moved from Labor Day to Memorial Day weekend. We agreed that the cooler weather made it more enjoyable.
We rode the first train, which was jammed. The line for later rides kept growing. There were signs that said, "60 minutes from this point."
A highlight was Kiso Forest Railway #9, which was on static display. It is a Baldwin 0-4-2 that spent its working life on a logging railroad in Japan. Note the wild smokestack. I talked to the project manager who said that it hasn't operated since the Sacramento Rail Fair in 1999, but it is in remarkably good shape. They have to do a lot of analysis of the boiler.
Yesterday we went to the 20th annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont. The weather was hot, so we didn't stay very long. Turnout was lower this year, perhaps because of the heat. We saw 1890 Porter 0-4-0 Ann Marie push a flatcar carrying an agricultural plow. Ann Marie could not pull a passenger train for the public again this year because of issues about some state rules. They hope to resolve the situation for next year. Ann Marie made some runs back and forth near Ardenwood Station. Kids love the chance to ride a train and don't care what is pulling it.
Today we went to the 19th annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Farm in Fremont. The weather was pleasant, with a breeze that kept it from getting too hot. Turnout was good this year. A brakeman said the train had 2000 riders yesterday. We saw 1890 Porter 0-4-0 Ann Marie push a newly built coach into Ardenwood Yard. Ann Marie could not pull a passenger train for the public this year because of issues about some state rules. They hope to resolve the situation for next year. Ann Marie made some demonstration runs between Ardenwood Station and Deer Park.
Today we visited Ardenwood Farm and took a ride behind their Plymouth locomotive, Katie. Katie pulled two nicely painted picnic cars. The handicapped car has dry rot, so it is being worked on. The brakeman on our car said that they can't give rides behind the Porter steam locomotive for the Labor Day Railfair this year for legal reasons. They are rebuilding the runaround track at Deer Park Station.
Sunday we went to the 18th annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Farm. The weather was overcast and muggy. Turnout was low, probably because of the recent excessive heatwave. A volunteer on the train said that there only about 200 visitors on Saturday. Ann Marie, an 1890 Porter 0-4-0, was there for the ninth straight year.
The two open flats now have walls and roofs. They were nice.
Traffic was light going over and coming back, but terrible when we got to Highway One back in Pacifica. After I took my mother grocery shopping on Saturday, It took me 45 minutes to get from Manor to home. This usually takes 12 minutes. The beach was jammed both days, and people were parking their cars along Highway One on Saturday.
Yesterday we went to the 14th annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. It was moderately warm. Two steam locomotives operated. Ann Marie, an 1890 Porter 0-4-0, was there for the sixth straight year. Antelope and Western 1, an 1889 Porter 0-4-0, was back for the first time since 2011. There was only one train, so the locomotives swapped each time the train reached Deer Park. There were big crowds, so we never got to make a round trip.
Traffic was light going over and coming back, but terrible when we got to Highway One back in Pacifica. The combination of a bright sunny day and the detour for the bridge replacement had everything backed up.
Ardenwood Station serves as the entrance to Ardenwood Historic Farm
Regional Park in Fremont. It is, I believe, a replica of a South Pacific
Coast depot. I took the photo from the train pushed by Porter locomotive Ann Marie during this year's annual Labor Day Railfair.
Today
we went to the 13th annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. It
was warm. There were no horse-powered train rides this
year. One
steam locomotive operated, Ann Marie, an 1890 Porter
which was there for the fifth straight year. Anne Marie pulled a three
car train: the covered car usually pulled by horses, and two flats.
Anne Marie was not putting out a lot of black smoke, as she had last year.
I didn't hear or smell the locomotive when we arrived. The conductor explained that it was at the other end of the line where it spent the night and they were having some trouble getting the fire going. I
like to catch the first train. The line at Ardenwood Station kept
getting longer and longer during the day. They had signs posted saying that all trips would be one-way, but Deer Park never developed a long line. We made a round trip on the first train, and later caught one back from Deer Park. There
was a big Garden Scale display, and a live steam display. We saw sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens and turkeys, but no swine. We got to meet Red, who is now the regular horse on the horse-drawn train rides, and Goliath, who is learning the job. They are trying to raise the money to buy harness for Goliath.
Here we see Ann Marie pushing her train out of Ardenwood Station. She stayed at that end of the train, pushing to Deer Park and pulling back to Ardenwood.
Traffic was fine on the Dumbarton Bridge, despite the Bay Bridge being closed.
If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can
recommend the Thirteenth Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at
Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the
Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a
steam locomotive to replace their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There
are rides on steam-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden
railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the
beautiful Patterson house.
Visiting for the fourth straight year is Ann Marie, an 1890 Porter 0-4-0T, Cortez Mining Company 1.
It is well worth a visit. This year the Bay Bridge will be closed
for the opening of the new eastern span over Labor Day weekend, so those of us coming from the
west may find more traffic than usual on the Dumbarton Bridge. .
I took this photo of Ann Marie running by her train at Deer Park on Labor Day Weekend, 2012.
The SPCRR is building a car house to provide shelter for its collection.
Today
we went to the 12th annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. It was
cool and overcast all day. There were no horse-powered train rides this year. One
steam locomotives operated, Anne Marie, an 1890 Porter
which was there for the fourth straight year. Anne Marie pulled a three
car train: the covered car usually pulled by horses, and two flats. Anne Marie was putting out a lot of coal smoke, as shown in the photo. Later in the day they made some adjustments that reduced the smoke. They also switched the train around so that the covered car was in the middle. The smoke had trapped the smoke when the locomotive was hooked to that end of the train.
I like to catch the first train. The line at Ardenwood Station kept getting longer and longer during the day. Kids were having a great time.
The Oakland horse car was on display.
A cold locomotive sat in the yard with the safety valve removed. I talked to the owner, who said he had brought it down from Tacoma. It was supposed to run this weekend, but had developed a leak. He ran it the week before at the Sumpter Valley. He was surprised when I called it the Polygamy Central.
There
was a big Garden Scale display, and a live steam display.
It was nice to see the animals, including two frisky piglets and a cow with a calf.
If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can
recommend the Twelfth Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at
Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the
Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a
steam locomotive to replace their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There
are rides on steam-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden
railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the
beautiful Patterson house.
Visiting for the third straight year is Ann Marie, an 1890 Porter 0-4-0T, Cortez Mining Company 1.
It is well worth a visit. This year the Dumbarton Bridge will be closed for retrofitting over Labor Day weekend, so those of us coming from the west will look for an alternate route. .
I took this photo of Ann Marie on Labor Day Weekend, 2011.
The SPCRR is building a car house to provide shelter for its collection.
Hours:
10-4, September 1, 2, 3.
Admission:
$8/adults;
$6/Seniors (62+);
$5/children (ages 4-17)
children age 3 and under are free
Free Parking
Yesterday we went to the 11th annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. It was cold and overcast when we got there at 10am, but the sky gradually cleared. There were no horse-powered train rides this year, but two steam locomotives operated, Antelope and Western 1, an 1889 Porter 0-4-0, which had visited from 2005-2008, and Anne Marie, an 1890 Porter which was there for the third straight year. A&W 1 pulled a three car train: a flat, the covered car usually pulled by horses, and another flat. Anne Marie pulled 1010, an 1882 combination car that last ran on the Southern Pacific narrow gauge.
While A&W 1's train loaded at Ardenwood Station, Anne Marie would arrive from Deer Park and pull its train past on another track and into the yard behind. After A&W 1 left, Anne Marie would push her train into the station. When A&W 1 arrived at Deer Park, she would run around to the front of train. When Anne Marie arrived, she would run around on the other track and A&W 1 would leave. Back at Ardenwood Station, A&W 1 would pull back around to the front of the train. So A&W 1 always ran around, while Anne Marie would push and pull.
The line at Ardenwood Station kept getting longer and longer during the day. Kids were having a great time.
There was a big Garden Scale display, and a modular N-Scale display. A steam calliope played in the gazebo. I didn't see the Oakland horse car, which was supposed to be on display.
This video shows A&W 1 backing onto its train at Deer Park. A brakeman drops the pin to couple the locomotive to the train. The locomotive pulls the train to Ardenwood Station.
If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can recommend the Eleventh Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a steam locomotive to join their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There are rides on steam-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the beautiful Patterson house.
For the third straight year, there will be two visiting steam locomotives, 1889 Porter 0-4-0T, Antelope and Western 1, which visited in 2005-2007, and 1890 Porter 0-4-0T, Cortez Mining Company 1, which visited the last two years.
It's well worth a visit, and it's just across the Dumbarton Bridge.
I took this photo of Antelope and Western 1, on Labor Day Weekend, 2006.
The SPCRR is building a car house to provide shelter for its collection.
Admission: $8/adults;
$6/Seniors (62+);
$5/children (ages 4-17)
children age 3 and under are free
If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can recommend the Tenth Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a steam locomotive to join their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There are rides on steam- and horse-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the beautiful Patterson house.
For the second straight year, there will be two visiting steam locomotives, 1889 Porter 0-4-0T, Antelope and Western 1, which visited 2005-2007, and 1890 Porter 0-4-0T, Cortez Mining Company 1, which visited last year.
It's well worth a visit, and it's just across the Dumbarton Bridge.
I took this photo of Antelope and Western 1, on Labor Day Weekend, 2006.
There were no horse-drawn train rides the last two years because Tucker died in 2008, and his replacement was not fully trained last year.
The SPCRR is building a car house to provide shelter for its collection.
Admission: $8/adults; $6/Seniors (62+); $5/children (ages 4-17) children age 3 and under are free
We visited Ardenwood Farm in Fremont today. A sign by the road invited people to meet the babies. It was nice to have a sunny day, although it was still chilly. We ate our picnic in the car. There were two new lambs, both February 28. I took the photo today.
We went to the Ninth annual Labor Day Railfair at Ardenwood Farm. The weather was on the cool side. For the first time ever, there were two guest steam locomotives. For the second straight year, they had Sandstone Crag Loop Line #4, Deanna, an 0-4-2T built by Baldwin in 1891 for the Kaiwiki Sugar Co. in Ookala, HI. It is now privately owned in Coto de Caza, CA. The other locomotive was Anne Marie, an 1890 Porter 0-4-0T.
There were some difficulties in figuring out operating procedutes. We got aboard #4, pulling the regular train and the picnic car, for its first run. When we arrived at Deer Park, most of the passengers got off, so we moved up near the front of the train, where we could see into the cab. After offloading, the train backed through the station, so the other train could pull in. We waited while it came from Ardenwood, then let off passengers, then left. We pulled back in. The crew had a vigorous discussion about better ways to do it. They decided that two trains were running more slowly than one, and that they would have to have one train pull around.
We rode back and I took this video. We had lunch then walked around and looked at the model train exhibits and the farm animals. Sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, and chickens.
Back at Deer Park, we watched the train pulled by #4 pull in, offload, then pull through the station. As the other train, pushed by the Porter, arrived, #4 pulled around on the passing track and headed back to Ardenwood. We got on 1882 Southern Pacific combination car 1010 behind the Porter, and it pulled through the station and we waited until the other train went to Ardenwood and came back. We pulled around and headed back. Two volunteers on the car told lots of stories about local history.
There were no horse-drawn train rides this year. The new horse is still in training, and Jiggs can't do it all by himself.
There were nice model train layouts and the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association had a collection of internal combustion engines running by the barn.
If you are looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, I can recommend the Ninth Annual Washington Township Railroad Fair at Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. Every year, the Society for the Preservation of Carter Railroad Resources brings in a steam locomotive to join their regular horse-drawn rail operation. There are rides on steam- and horse-drawn trains and handcars. There is a large garden railroad display, and all the regular animals and farm equipment and the beautiful Patterson house. This year's guest locomotive is Sandstone Crag Loop Line #4, "Deanna," an 0-4-2T built by Baldwin in 1891 for the Kaiwiki Sugar Co. in Ookala, Hawaii.
It's well worth a visit, and it's just across the Dumbarton Bridge, which should not be too badly affected by the Bay Bridge closure.
I took this photo of Sandstone Crag Loop Line #4 on Labor Day weekend, 2008.
Today I took a walk to look at the closed freeway entrances leading to the Bay Bridge. This is the first time the bridge has been closed on a workday since 1989.
We visited Ardenwood Farm in Fremont today. A sign by the road invited people to meet the babies. There were lots of people with kids and lots of lambs. The goats did not have kids. These were two of the cutest lambs, although I was also partial to a black one with long legs and big ears. All the railroad cars had tarps on their roofs.
Ardenwood Station serves as the entrance to Ardenwood Historic Farm Regional Park in Fremont. It is, I believe, a replica of a South Pacific Coast depot.
