Photo of Poway-Midland Railroad in California1 / 2
Trains & Railways

Poway-Midland Railroad

📍 Old Poway, CA

★4.6(73 Google reviews)💰$đŸ‘ļAll ages

Volunteer-operated heritage railroad in Old Poway Park offering rides on a 1906 Baldwin steam locomotive, cable car, and speeder. Runs weekends with seasonal holiday events and historic buildings on site.

✓ Heritage railroad✓ Volunteer-run✓ Historic buildings✓ Weekend only✓ Picnic spot✓ Family-owned charm

🏆 Family Action Verdict

Best for families with young train enthusiasts and kids who enjoy hands-on historical settings. The volunteer staff are knowledgeable and add genuine warmth to the visit. Manage expectations on the railroad itself - the loop is short and the museum skews toward local history rather than railroading.

â„šī¸ What to Know Before You Go

💡Visit on weekends when historic buildings and the ceramics studio are staffed and open
⏰Pack a picnic - the park grounds are pleasant and tables are available
đŸŽŸī¸The train loop is short; pair it with exploration of the historic buildings
🚗Engage the volunteers - they are enthusiastic and know the history in depth

đŸ’Ŧ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews →
4.6
★★★★★

73 Google reviews

G Reviews from Google

D

Danielle J

9 months ago

★★★★★

“My dad took me as a child here all the time. He always took me to museums and historical places. This is one of those places. I really enjoyed coming here again. Thank you to the volunteers who make it more enjoyable. â¤ī¸â€

J

James Newton

a year ago

★★★★★

“Just excellent. Loved the ceramics hut, and had a fun conversation with the person who runs it. Learned a lot!”

C

Christopher Hazlett

4 years ago

★★★★★

“Nice park. If I can give it a 4.5 stars, I would. There were more buildings there than I thought there would be. Today is a Wednesday and the buildings were closed, which makes sense. My only suggestion is to have one building open during the week, even if it's just a window open to poke my head in.”

đŸ’Ŧ What parents mention

Knowledgeable friendly volunteersHistoric park atmosphereGood picnic settingsparse railroad experience

Overview

The Poway-Midland Railroad runs a short loop through Old Poway Park aboard a 1906 Baldwin steam locomotive, cable car, and speeder with ore cars. The surrounding park includes historic buildings - a ceramics studio, local history displays, and period structures - staffed by volunteers on weekends. Weekday visits see most buildings closed. Picnic tables are available throughout the park grounds.

🕐 Opening Hours

Saturday10:00-14:00
Sunday11:00-14:00

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