Jamestown’s famed steam locomotive pulls visitors once again. How to book a ride
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- Restored Sierra No. 3 steam engine resumes excursions at Railtown 1897.
- Engine No. 3 features in major films, resumes service after 2021–2025 overhaul.
- Restored locomotive draws fans through October with weekend and summer rides.
Fans of the steam railroad era can once again ride a beloved locomotive out of Jamestown.
Railtown 1897 State Historic Park will celebrate the restoration of Sierra Railway No. 3 on Saturday, July 12. It is already in rotation with a younger diesel engine on the six-mile excursion route this year.
The engine is known as the “movie star locomotive” due to its role in Hollywood productions dating to 1920. The films include “High Noon, ” “Duel in the Sun,” “Unforgiven” and “Back to the Future III.” Among the TV shows are “Bonanza,” “Gunsmoke,” “Petticoat Junction” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
The engine was built in 1891 and joined the Sierra upon its completion in 1897 between Oakdale and the Sonora area. The line played a crucial part in the timber, mining and dam-construction industries in Tuolumne County. Regular passenger service lasted until 1939.
Today, the freight route is known as the Sierra Northern Railway and extends to Riverbank. Its diesel engines haul mainly lumber, gravel, propane tanks and turkey feed on the winding tracks.
The steam locomotive was initially restored in 2010, but federal rules required another overhaul between 2021 and this year. Experts made sure it could safely move under the pressure of steam from its oil-fired boilers.
The project had help from the California State Railroad Museum Foundation, which also looks after a larger museum in Old Sacramento.
Saturday’s event will begin with a 9:30 a.m. grand entry of No. 3 into the depot, on Fifth Avenue just east of Highway 49-108. The 45-minute excursions will depart at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tickets are $23 for adults, $18 for riders between 6 and 17, are free for younger children. They can be reserved at www.railtown1897.org.
This year’s excursions run on all Saturdays and Sundays from April through October. Wednesdays are added from June 11 to Aug. 13.
The public can visit Railtown on non-excursion days, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. The place has a maintenance roundhouse, picnic areas and gift shop.
