Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad

Our train car looks like a film set! Stay tuned...

This week is all about the photogenic animals that like to hang out in the park with us!

Artsy Photos from awhile back!

Chugging through the week like:

While we are not yet open, we didn't want anyone forgetting about us! Unless you've been tied to the front of a locomotive by some sinister neerdowells in the past, enjoy this seldom seen point of view of our railroad.

Due to updated county and town orders, the Holiday Train is canceled.

We had an AMAZING past two weekends with all of you once again! We are so grateful for the all love! We wanted to share some of our favorite pictures. Please make sure to periodically check in to get all the up-to-date info on our future schedule. With the way 2020 has been rolling, we need to stay just as flexible. And please please parents, remember to talk to your kids about not walking on train tracks, and keeping an eye on them while at the park.

After many many inquiries from everyone, we have the train schedule all sorted out for the next 2 weekends! Please note the slightly modified departure time. We want to make sure we give our returning staff and volunteers a chance to get caught up on everything. Can't wait to ride the rails with you all!

BIG IMPORTANT AWESOME UPDATE! HAPPY NEWS EVERYONE! Sorry for getting all quiet there while we were getting things ready, but it paid off! Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is HAPPY to announce we are cleared to pull out of the station and send trains down the line once again, WITH PASSENGERS STARTING THIS WEEKEND! The county has just approved us to open our ticket booth window, Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 to 3:00. ALL ABOARD!... For a tasty treat, our concession stand will be open 10:30 to 2:30! While we can’t wait to bring you the fun, we also want to be safe. We ask that everyone wear a mask, just try to not rob the train. We are doing our part by spacing out the seating on the cars, we ask that you remember to give everyone a bit of space as well. We will have hand sanitizer everywhere and we accept credit cards or exact cash, $3 for a train ticket. We could only pick one ride to reopen, so unfortunately, the carousel will still be closed.

IT'S WEDNESDAY!!! Which can only mean we are halfway through the week! And as if you weren't looking forward to this weekend enough, our concession stand will be returning starting Saturday! Come get a tasty treat if you find yourself in the park this weekend. (But don't forget, please have your mask)

It never ceases to amaze us how creative and talented our train fans are! Daniel Noyer put this video together of the Wildcat Railroad back in its prime, including a history lesson of Billy Jones and the Railroad itself! We are so excited to share and it is definitely a must watch! Thank you Dan for the video and the memories. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cdfPW5igbs

Station beautification! Collecting up all the fallen leaves and dumping them in our green dumpster. It's a never ending task, but besides making the place look good, anything we can do to lower any fire hazards during this time, we are happy to do. Keep up the great work fire fighters!

From all of us on the Tuesday Volunteer Group, we wanted to share our deepest gratitude to those combating the wildfires all around us. To the firefighters battling the flames, to the police helping evacuations, the crews tackling from the air, and the hospital workers caring for the injured. Thank you all so so much for what you do.

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Friends & Family: This week’s devastating fires in the Santa Cruz Mountains has greatly impacted a family member organization of the BJWRR. Located north of Davenport, the Swanton Pacific Railroad was established by former BJWRR board member and Orchard Supply Hardware President, Al Smith. The Swanton Pacific is a 19inch gauge railroad (one inch wider than the BJWRR) using equipment originally built for the Pan-American Exposition held in San Fr...ancisco in 1914/1915 (our own Bill Mason carousel was also featured at this same exposition). The Overfair Railway was designed, built and owned by Louis MacDermott, who later became a close friend of Billy Jones. In the later stages of this life, MacDermott moved himself, five steam locomotives and dozens of passenger cars to Billy’s Los Gatos cherry orchard. The 1 inch gauge difference in the equipment precluded the use of the larger Overfair locomotives at the ranch but a few of the passenger cars were successfully modified - the same design continues to be used by our railroad. After Louis died, Billy reluctantly sold the Overfair equipment to several separate parties. Associated with Billy Jones for many years, Al Smith fondly remembered the Overfair equipment at Billy’s ranch. Using funds from the sale of OSH to WR Grace, Smith bought the 3,200 acre Swanton Ranch and acquired all of the Overfair equipment from several parties. The Overfair equipment was at last reunited under one owner. With friends, many of whom were active Billy Jones’ volunteers, Al began his own railroad, the Swanton Pacific, in the early 1980s. Prior to passing, Al donated both the Swanton Ranch and the railroad to Cal Poly (his alma mater) and provided a large endowment to cover continued operational expenses for both. Since that time, the railroad has been run by volunteers as the 'Swanton Pacific Railroad Society' under the Cal Poly umbrella. The recent fire damage images of the Swanton Pacific Railroad and other locations are disheartening. Over the decades, our own little two-spot has burned in two roundhouse fires. With community support, she has been able to rise like a Phoenix to the delight of her supporters. We are confident the same will happen with our Swanton Pacific family and will be at the ready to assist as work parties are coordinated. Please follow our dear friends Swanton Pacific Railroad and thank you Ken Middlebrook for your words and Mike Massee for the photo.

Just checked, YUP it's a hot one today! Everyone stay cool out there.

", , " It is never too early or too late to teach children what to do when they come up to railroad tracks. While our trains here might be smaller, they still can't stop on a dime like just like a full size train. Teach them to always use the crossings, but remember to ", , " in case the crossing arms are broken, and to look both ways before crossing (just like a street). And of course, never play on train tracks. And for you adults, stop p...arking on the tracks when you are waiting at the red light! This has been your Saturday PSA. P.S. ", , "

We are still so excited that we got to run all 5 of our trains this week! So much so that we thought we would share this very rare experience with all of you!