08/25/2026
Be sure to check out this pinned post with answers to our Frequently Asked Questions! Plenty of good information about our steam trains.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the Tilden Park Steam Train:
The Tilden Park Steam Train is an independently owned and operated for-profit business and has been since 1952.
What are your hours?
We are open for steam train rides every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am, with the last train of the day departing at 6:00 pm. During the summer, we are also open Monday through Friday from 11 am with the last train departing at 5:00 pm (ending on Labor Day Monday).
Additional parking is available in the overflow parking lot north of the main parking lot.
How much are tickets? Steam train tickets are required for all persons age 2 and above. They are $5 each. We also offer a five-ride ticket for $20.
A two-year old must have a ticket to ride the steam train.
What forms of payment do you accept? We gladly welcome cash, Visa, Mastercard, along with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay for Visa and Mastercard only. Regrettably, we do not accept American Express, Discover, PayPal, Venmo or Zelle.
We do not accept EBT nor do we offer any discounts for seniors, AAA, student or military.
How long are tickets good for? Tickets are available for a single ride on the Tilden Park Steam Train. They are punched by the train conductor at the time of your ride. Tickets that have not been punched do not expire and may be used at any time.
Who can ride the steam train? Everyone! Dogs, too. We are dog friendly, and suggest a tight hold on the leash during a ride.
On many days, our train is 12 cars long and carry 100 passengers every trip.
For your safety and the safety of other passengers, please remain seated at all times, with hands, feet, arms, legs, and cell phones inside the train at all times. If you drop something from the train, please remain seated. At the end of your trip, advise one of the conductors on the station platform and we will retrieve the item for you. Passengers are not permitted to leave the train anywhere except the boarding station.
Strollers are parked on the train platform directly across from where you are seated. That way, when you return you don’t have to look for it, because it is right there.
Public restrooms are located adjacent to the parking lot. We ask for your courtesy to use these facilities for all diaper changing and infant restroom needs.
Tilden Park is a non-smoking environment including to***co, cannabis, and vapes. The consumption of alcoholic beverages is also not permitted within the Park. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Are the trains really powered by steam? Yes, they are! Each locomotive boils water to create steam that it uses to make each trip around the railroad. Water is boiled by burning a light fuel oil.
We have four steam locomotives. They were all built specifically for the Tilden Park Steam Train.
How long is each ride? The Tilden Park Steam Train is one and one-quarter miles long, and each trip takes 12 minutes to travel around the railroad.
What is the best time of day to ride the Tilden Park Steam Train? The busiest time each day is often the first several hours. Less crowded times tend to be mid afternoons.
When can we ride the little trains? The Golden Gate Live Steamers offer rides on Sundays between noon and 3 pm. There are no tickets needed but they do accept cash and electronic payment donations.
Do you offer any snacks or beverages? Regrettably, we are unable to offer any snacks or beverages for sale.
The Tilden Park Steam Train is also known as the Redwood Valley Railway. Are there redwood trees here? Yes, over 800 redwood trees were planted in the area over 50 years ago and created a wonderful forest of redwood trees to enjoy.
We ask that everyone remain on the paved walkway. For your safety, we ask that you do not walk on the railroad track at any time. Tracks are only for trains.
We also ask that you refrain from climbing over railings and watch your childen to prevent them from doing so. Your safety is important to us.
We also ask that you refrain from picking flowers, plants, or downed branches. Please respect the environment in which we operate the steam trains for your enjoyment.
Do the trains run in all kinds of weather? We do try to run trains at all types of weather. If it is foggy at Tilden Park, we do keep the trains running. Moderate rainfall will end operations due to concerns for the safety of passengers and our staff.
Please let us know if we can answer any questions.
We look forward to have you join us for a ride on the Tilden Park Steam Train soon!
