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The El Dorado Express in Long Beach 10/8/2016

I had called the El Dorado Express about visiting to write a travelogue on their unique train and decided on October 8, 2016, since it was the first of three weekends with no real train service on our Pacific Surfliner route. I asked my friend Robin Bowers if he wanted to accompany me and he offered to drive.

That Saturday, Robin picked me up just after 8:30 AM and we drove to El Dorado Park in Long Beach, he paid the $7.00 to get us into the park and we parked near the station. We walked over to where the train was being readied for a test run. There I met Greg Ruvolo, whom I had talked to on the phone and he and his daughter Taylor walked the line to inspect the track while his father Tony prepared the train.

The El Dorado Express is a real park train, which Tony Ruvolo and his son Greg refurbished in 1988. This family-owned operation, running on 15" gauge track, was originally built as a park train powered by a live steam engine in 1946. Tony and Greg found the train at Colton Piano in Colton, California, where it had been sitting for over twenty years in a dirt lot. It took them over eight years to restore the train to working condition.

The train waiting for the inspection run of the day.

The El Dorado Express undergoing the daily inspection run. Robin joined me waiting for the return trip.

The El Dorado Express train made its way south then we met Tony who gave us a tour of the grounds.

The operating area of the engine.

The water tower. We next walked through the tunnel made out of two storage containers which is where the train is stored when not in use.

The east end of their tunnel which had many railroad and seasonal items inside along the walls.

A Choo Choo crossing sign.

We walked back to their station and climbed aboard for our ride on the El Dorado Express.

The engine was turned on, a whistle toot and we were off on the El Dorado Express, starting on the southern loop track.

Rounding the first curve.

Leaving the station behind.

Rounding the curves on the southern loop track.

Entering the tunnel.

Inside the tunnel as we pass through.

The tunnel was now behind us.

We were now on the mainline of the El Dorado Express.

The southeast curve.

Passing my photo location from earlier.

El Dorado Park as seen from the train.

Entering the northern loop track.

The track on which we will return.

Rounding the curves of the northern loop track.

Entering the rainforest.

How many creatures can you spot?

Back on the main line, leaving the northern loop track behind.

During the return journey.

The railroad sign visible from southbound Interstate 605.

Robin and I were enjoying our ride.

Rounding the southeast curve for the last time.

There is even a "mine".

We returned to the southern loop track.

The train arrived at the station, thus ending a unique trip aboard the El Dorado Express. We thanked Tony for the excellent ride then I walked over to where Greg and Taylor were working and gave each of them my business card and thanked them for having us. A special thank you to the El Dorado Express for having Robin and I aboard their train this morning. We left El Dorado Park in Long Beach and drove to Flintridge.

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