Weekend train rides down Sacramento River return at California State Railroad Museum

All aboard!

The California State Railroad Museum’s flagship weekend train rides restarted Saturday, ushering in a new season of locomotive fun along the Sacramento River.

Train guests who hop on one of the museum’s historic steam or diesel locomotives will enjoy a six-mile, 50-minute round-trip journey down the Sacramento Southern Railroad. Guests can ride in open-air gondolas with bench seating or in enclosed coach cars.

This month, trains depart Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., leaving from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot at Front Street between J and K streets. From May to September, trains also will run Fridays.

Coach excursion tickets cost $15 for adults and $8 for ages 6-17, with youths 5 and younger free.

First-class tickets cost $25 for adults and $18 for youths. Tickets are limited, so the museum recommends interested riders book online in advance.

Masks are required in line with federal transit guidelines.

To purchase tickets, visit the museum’s website.

Wildflower train rides in Jamestown

For two weekends in April, the museum also will be hosting wildflower train rides at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown.

Visitors can enjoy wildflower fields from aboard a historic train during the six-mile, one-hour round trip April 9-10 and April 16-17, with trains departing at 3:30 p.m.

Local naturalists will answer questions and point out flower groupings along the way.

Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6-17. Children 5 and younger ride free.

Tickets will sell out, museum officials said. To purchase, visit the state park’s website.