PSRM Golden State Excursion Page

PACIFIC SOUTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM

GOLDEN STATE EXCURSIONS

FLASH!

This summer, on each Saturday, PSRM is offering a different train ride experience instead of the usual Golden State train ride. These are:
1. Museum visit only - $5 adults, $2.50 children 6-12. Allows you entrance to the Display Building and yard tracks to view and experience steam locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars and cabooses, with interior visits available for some of the trains. Spend as much time as you like.
2. Museum visit and caboose train ride on track one. $10 adults, $5 children 6-12. All of the above plus a ride on a real caboose in the Museum yard tracks.
3. Museum visit and cab ride. $15 adults and children. View the Museum's Display plus ride in the locomotive with the Engineer.
4. Museum visit and run the locomotive for 1/2 hour. $75 adults and 16+ children. View the Museum's Display plus run the locomotive with the Engineer for 30 minu tes.
5. Museum visit and run the locomotive for one hour. $150 adults and 16+ children. View the Museum's Display plus run the locomotive with the Engineer for 60 minu tes.
The Museum grounds and Gift Shop will be open and available for walking tours between 9AM and 5PM. The Museum's Engineer for a Half-Hour and One Hour program is available weekends on a reservation basis. Receive instruction in running a diesel locomotive before you take the throttle yourself for only $75 for 1/2 hour or $150 for an hour. Reservations are available on line at the Museum's Engineer for a Half-Hour and One Hour program, as well as tickets for Locomotive Cab and Caboose Rides on the Museum grounds.
Check back here for further information when we announce the return of our Golden State excursion trains.
North Pole Limited train tickets are expected to be available to our members in July and the general public in August.

The Golden State is the Museum's standard weekend excursion that has been in operation since 1986. Join us for a pleasant 12 mile round-trip journey into the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest. You will depart from the historic Campo Depot for the 60 minute ride after visiting the Museum's gift shop.
Golden State locomotive cab rides are also available. Please check Cab-Rides for further information.
The Golden State operates between Campo and Division only on selected weekend dates.
Please check the Museum's on-line Excursion Calendar for all available excursion dates. Reservations are not required for the Golden State, but tickets may be purchased on-line from the Calendar if desired.
The Golden State will NOT be running unless indicated on the Excursion Calendar.
The Golden State is also available for general public and weekday group-rate charters on the third Tuesday of each month. A minimum passenger count is required for these weekday trips, advance reservations ARE required. Please check the Museum's Excursion Calendar to see if the Golden State's minimum passenger count has been met and is scheduled for a given Tuesday. If the trip date does not appear on the Calendar 30-days from the trip date, the excursion won't be run.

Summer 2009 Schedule
Starting Saturday, June 27th through August 30th, the Museum will be open on both Saturdays and Sundays. However, we will be operating rail equipment only on Saturdays. On both days, the historic Campo Depot, Giftshop and Display Building will open. Train and Museum Admission tickets are on sale at the Campo Depot. The Museum's Ticket to Tecate train is scheduled for Saturday, August 1, and will be the only train operating on that day. Starting Saturday, September 5th, we will return to running trains both Saturday and Sunday.

Departure Times: 11:00 AM & 2:30 PM
Fares:

Adult $15
Adult Discount $12
Group $12
Child 6-12 $5
Child 5 and under Free
Locomotive Cab Ride $35

Note: Discount fares apply to Active Military, Seniors (65 and up) and Groups (15 and up pre-reserved tickets). The Museum's on-line reservation system may be used to place individual and group reservations. The system will automatically adjust the per-ticket price if fifteen or more are requested.
There is no discount for groups of children.

There are things to see and do at the Campo Depot every weekend. Please click on the months below to see the Museum event calendars.

June | July | August

*To view points of interest along the railroad, move your pointer along the tracks and click where it changes shape to see a photo. Some photos are found a short distance away from the tracks.*

Watching the "run around" at Miller Creek

#7285 runs around the train at Miller Creek

A guided walking tour of the Museum's restoration area is included at the completion of the excursion. See and inspect steam and Diesel locomotives, freight equipment, passenger cars, cabooses and even a Railway Post Office car. Some of the equipment are being restored by the Museum's volunteers.
We also offer the opportunity to ride in the cab of the Diesel-electric locomotive on the round trip to Miller Creek or Division. The engineer and brakeman are happy to talk with you about how the train operates, and give you the chance to blow the horn!

Passengers enjoying the scenery aboard SD&A coach #250

Engineer Robin Becker instructs Jessie how to blow the "long long short long" horn sequence during a cab ride

Locomotive Cab Ride Information

Excursion Calendar

This is your opportunity to ride in the locomotive cab with the Engineer and the crew during the round-trip to Miller Creek or Division. During the ride, you'll get to experience what railroading is like from the cab, and, most likely, be recruited to join us in our volunteer train operations! The cost of the cab ride also includes the train ride, for a total of $35.00 round trip for every person riding in the locomotive regardless of age. We do allow sharing whereby one person rides in the cab and another on the train, and they switch positions for the return trip. Only two riders are allowed in the cab at one time. We do allow a total of four per trip by allowing two to ride in the cab to the turn-around point, then two others in your group may ride in the cab back to Campo while the first two ride back on the train.
We have found that children younger than about six-years old tend to be sensitive to the loud air horn on the locomotive. We do have ear protection available. Also, depending on which locomotive we are using, you may be required to stand for the trip.
Sorry, cab rides are not available on Tecate Excursions, without exception.
Reservations may be made for one or two people to ride in the locomotive cab. Please check the Museum's Excursion Calendar for available cab ride dates. Click on your desired date and you will be shown if space is available at your desired departure time. You may then purchase your tickets using the Museum's on-line reservation system.
Walk up tickets may be available on the day of your visit, space permitting. Check with the Ticket Agent on duty in the Campo Depot upon your arrival.

Ticket Return Policy

We understand that unplanned emergencies arise from time and time and could interfere with your plans to ride a train with us. There are NO REFUNDS. However, if you give us at least 30 (thirty) days advanced notice, we will be happy to:

Accommodate one reschedule of your visit; or
You may substitute another party(s) in your place.
We are required to provide US Customs with a manifest prior to any Mexican trip, therefore any replacement guest info mus t be provided to the reservations manager at least 24 hours in advance of the trip.
You may send an email to the Reservations Manager with your change requests.

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Page by Randy Houk and others, updated 06/29/2009 at 1941 PDT