Some images from Travel Town now that it’s had some work done. Of all the railroad museums I’ve ever been to, this is probably the most children-centric. But, there’s certainly a lot of very rare locomotives and cars to be seen.
The California Western RS12, which I’m guessing is the only Baldwin diesel in LA county. (Any others?)
Where is that Travel Town at in Los Angeles ? I was just in Los Angeles last week on vacation but I spent my time on the golf course at Griffith Park . Nice photos BTW .
From the golf course, it’s very easy to find Travel Town in Griffith Park.
Just drive north on the park road that goes through the golf course. It’s about a mile or so further up. First you will pass LA Live Steamers huge layout on the left. Continuing north, you will see the Travel Town display on the left. Make a left into the parking lot and you are there.
I did not realize that Travel Town was even in Griffith Park ! When I got done golfing it was getting dark everyday and there was Christmas lights on the trees on the course and there was this huge light display tunnel you could drive under . I go to Los Angeles about once a year and next year instead of going on a sight seeing tour of some movie studio I will take my wife to Travel Town . What a small world . Do you ever see any CN locomotives out there ? When I was golfing at Griffith Park I could hear a train horn out in the distance , like it was coming from the other side of the expressway next to the course .
Yeah, you were right there. Travel Town is north of the tunnel of lights (which is only up during the Christmas holiday) and north of the Zoo.
It’s also free. There are lots of children’s birthday parties there during the weekend, but during weekdays, it’s failry quiet.
If you are a photagrapher, best light is in the late afternoon for most of the displays. Bring as wide-angle a lens as you have, as some of the locomotives are very close to fences and other objects.
If you are a modeler, there is a terrific N-Gauge layout there, but it is only open on weekends.
There is also a live steamer train ride (not part of Travel Town) next door. This is Sunday only. Some Sundays they let you into the back shops area. (Note - This is not one of the park trains that also run in Griffith Park, one at the southern end and one circling Travel Town itself.)
Well I might not be out there for another year but I will check it out . I enjoy Griffith Park Golf Course also (the price is right) and I want to check that Travel Town out next time I am there .
Be nice if the collection could actually go somewhere, sad thing is all of them are mostly just static, the couple that still run really have no where to go.
I find the lack of situational awareness on nearby foaming opportunities amazing on this thread. There are actually three live steamer rides in Los Angeles Griffith Park (the largest municipal park in the world)
The LA Live Steamers offers rides for free every Sunday, and should not be missed.
As for hearing train horns while golfing, you were hearing the Metrolink Valley Sub, in which 80-90 trains may pass each day (albeit, the majority Metrolink and Amtrak, but also Union Pacific)
Many years ago there was a narrow guage train operating at Travel Town.It was a Hawaiian train from the Oahu Railway consisting of a 4-6-0 a combine and coach.It was pulled out of service in the early 60s.I rode the train in 1959.
One of my favorite little engines, a Southern Pacific home built 0-6-0. Wonder if this unit knows its birthplace in Sacramento was just saved to become a railroad museum.
Travel Town is probably the one place more then anywhere else responsable for me being a railfan. Last time I was there ther place shure had deteriorated, the equiptment that is, sad. And I also had a birthday party there when I was about 6.
As far as I know, The 56 is the only Baldwin Diesel in LA county, but you may want to check the Baldwin Diesel Zone to be sure. What a blast it is to operate this unit.
The speeder, came to us from the US Navy, it was built by Fairmont in 1987, and is powered by a 1974 Pinto engine. It’s pretty fun to drive.
Our EMD model 40 is a really nice engine, donated in 1988 by Mcdonnell Douglas, in Torrance where it worked alongside the crane and flatcar. which were donated later in 1998 by Boeing Aircraft.
Speaking of our Alco crane, if you look more closely you may realize it’s Actually an American crane, model 508cd, serial 1887. Built in 1943 for the war department.