Truckee Regional Railroad
Similar to the model trains that you had at home as a kid, the Truckee regional railroad transports you to a different time. Rich in history this train has so much to offer the kids and adults of the community. Continue reading to see the highlights of this article, or click here for the full article.
History of The Truckee Regional Railroad
Robert Bell, the mastermind behind the “labor of love” railroad, is a train enthusiast. He had a train on his property that many kids from the neighborhood would come to ride. He realized that a train is an entertainment for kids of all ages.
In 2013, Bob invited the Sacramento Valley Live Steamers to bring their portable track and riding the train for a Truckee historical event. Over 290 people rode the train during this event. It was obvious that Truckee, being a historic railroad town, needed something to support the ever-growing community. (Source)
Bob approached Steve Randall, of the Recs and Parks in Truckee, and together they saw an opportunity to permanently install the railroad. Fundraising and then construction began and by 2014 the upper loop was completed at the Truckee Regional Park. With only seven run days the track had over 600 riders. By the summer of 2015, the train had over 2,700 riders. (Source)
To date, the Truckee River Railroad has provided over 35,000 rides, constructed an engine house and workshop, a trestle to the engine house, a station structure, and so much more.
Running the Train
The train conductor arrives at 7:30 am every morning to get everything ready for the first ride which happens at 11 am. The train leaves the depot and weaves through the regional park towards the community gardens and circles back to the depot. The ride is around 1500 feet but there are plans to expand it even farther.
The train will continue to run for the following dates for the 2022 summer.
- 11 am to 2 pm July 30th
- 11 am to 2 pm August 6th and 20th
- 11 am to 2 pm September 3rd and 24th
- 11 am to 2 pm October 8th and 20th
Source: DePuy , Judy. “History: Truckee Regional Railroad a ‘Labor of Love’.” SierraSun.com, SierraSun.com, 25 July 2022, https://www.sierrasun.com/news/history-truckee-regional-railroad-a-labor-of-love/.
