Sierra Railroad was strategically built in 1897 to connect the Central Valley to the Gold Country. Today, Sierra Railroad’s strategic location is ideal for travelers. Our train station in Oakdale is only 1 hour east of the San Francisco Bay Area, 1 hour south of Sacramento and on a major route to Yosemite National Park (Highway 120).
Notoriety is not a new thing for this historic railroad. A key reason for the construction of the railroad was to connect the world with famous Gold Rush towns of Jamestown, Sonora, Angels Camp, Tuolumne and more.
Due to the hundreds of movies made on the railroad since 1919, Sierra is one of the most famous railroads in the world. In 1972, Sierra established the first dinner train in North America that spurred a tremendous growth in dinner trains and now there are 83 operating in North America.
The Dinner Train draws upon our rich history and region while providing guests with fun, unique and memorable experiences. "Movie Railroad" trips feature impersonators of famous actors like John Wayne, Groucho Marx, Clint Eastwood and Grace Kelly that made movies on the Sierra.
Farmers Bounty trips feature locally grown produce from California’s "breadbasket". Wild West Adventures offer a trip back in time to the Old West. Rail & Raft trips begin with a train trip but you return to town on the Stanislaus River! Other trips include: Golden Sunset Dinners, Sierra Daylight Brunches & Lunches, Murder Mystery Dinners, Wildflower trips, Party trains, Christmas Trains and Chocolate Decadence Lunches.
In 1972, Sierra Railroad established the first dinner train in the United States, the Supper Chief. While dining cars for travelers existed, there was nothing available for non-travelers that wanted to combine the pleasure of dining with riding by rail. The Supper Chief helped spur a tremendous growth in dinner trains and now there are 83 operating in North America, including nearby Napa Valley Wine Train and McCloud Railroad’s Shasta Sunset. The Supper Chief was discontinued when the railroad had its first ownership change after 80 years. When the railroad was re-sold to a third owner in 1995, new president Michael Hart made it a priority to bring dinner trains back to the Sierra and he introduced the Sierra Railroad Dinner Train on December 30, 1999.
The Sierra Railroad Dinner Train consists of several dining coaches, a lounge car and Sierra Engine #42, a Baldwin diesel locomotive. Each dining coach is named after a famous place from nearby Yosemite, which used to be connected to the Sierra Railroad. The "Half Dome", "Yosemite Falls" and "Nevada Falls" cars provide an elegant dining atmosphere.
Passengers arrive at Sierra’s Oakdale station where they listen to music, have a drink and view railroad and regional memorabilia before boarding the train. Passing the outskirts of town the track winds past orchards and starts a climb up Sand Hill to the cattle country of eastern Stanislaus County. The trip continues through miles of unspoiled rangeland that attracted movie producers from around the world to film hundreds of movies, including the classic High Noon." Meals are served as the train passes the lost towns of Occidental, Paulsell and Warnerville that are now only a memory. After 16 miles, the train begins its return trip.
On the way back, passengers usually linger over dessert or stroll to the lounge car for fun, cocktails and dancing.
While most trips turn back after 16 miles, Sierra is working to extend passengers trips further along its 49-mile route to the Gold Country. This beautiful area is currently used for freight operations and by Railtown 1897 State Park in Jamestown. Once track improvement projects are completed this will be spectacular. Sierra currently runs special "Mother Lode" trips through this region.
This is the first time in 20 years Sierra has had passenger service along this route and it is very popular!
Current trips include the following:
GOLDEN SUNSET DINNER: You are served a delicious 4-course dinner while you ride on a 3-hour trip through the countryside. Golden Sunset trips depart Saturdays with plenty of time to see the countryside and glorious sunset as you have dinner. Once the sun sets in the west, linger over dessert or retire to the lounge car for fun, cocktails & dancing.
MURDER MYSTERIES: Sierra hosts an evening of murder, mystery & fine dining aboard the Golden Sunset. Actors perform scenes in your dining car as you enjoy a 4-course dinner and 3-hour train trip. While the plots involve thieves & murderers, the show is light-hearted and full of humor. Murder Mystery trips are scheduled every Friday night.
SIERRA DAYLIGHT: The Sierra Daylight serves a delicious 3-course lunch or 4-course Sunday brunch while you ride through the countryside. These daytime trips are great for site-seers, families and people seeking a relaxing afternoon. Bands or strolling musicians travel on every trip to provide additional entertainment. Spring Wildflower Specials are extremely popular for the fields of California poppies and other wildflowers
(March-May).
MOVIE RAILROAD: Sierra is famous for making 300 movies. During lunch trip, this history comes alive with impersonators of famous actors or actresses that made movies on the Sierra.
WILD WEST ADVENTURES: The 3-hour journey to the old west begins at our train station in Oakdale -- the "Cowboy Capital of the World". Sierra Railroad has been in such westerns as The Unforgiven, Back to the Future III, Pale Rider, & High Noon. You ride along with western characters, gunslingers, cowboy singers, train robbers and finish the day with an old fashion gunfight.
RAIL & RAFT (May-Sept.): After a 1.5-hour train trip with a lunch & live music, go on 2.5-hour raft trip on the beautiful Stanislaus River. You board the train to enjoy lunch and the scenery. R&R passengers then deboard to take a shuttle to Knights Ferry to go on a guide-assisted raft trip down the Stanislaus River back to town. The R&R trips make for a perfect summer day!
CHOCOLATE DECADENCE: This 3-hour lunch trip features chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Afterwards, walk next door to the Hershey’s Chocolate Visitors Center.
FARMER’S BOUNTY: Enjoy food from the breadbasket of the world. Local food or wine is featured with all 4 courses. A docent discusses local history and agriculture.
PARTY TRAINS: Every month, the Sierra Railroad throws a party on the train. Each trip features live music, dancing and the best 15-mile-an-hour celebration around. Trips include Mardi Gras, Margarita Express, American Graffiti, Caribbean Express, Hot Summer Blues, Summer Mardi Gras, Halloween, Grapevine Express & New Years Eve ($125).
GREAT PUMPKIN EXPRESS (October): Family train trip to pumpkin patch in October. Children encouraged to wear costumes. Mr. & Mrs. Scarecrow let everybody pick a pumpkin to take home.
CHRISTMAS TRAIN (December): Enjoy cookies, hot cocoa storytellers, strolling musicians, elves and Santa. While the train glides through the night, Santa visits with every child and gives them a small bell to remember the trip. With over 5000 Christmas Train passengers, we strongly recommend advance
purchases. The 75-minute trip is a great way to celebrate Christmas with family, friends and the community.
Contact:
(800) 866-1690
www.SierraRailRoad.com