Robin Bowers picked me up and we drove Interstate 5 to Griffith Park. Since we were early, we drove Zoo Drive south and I spotted a sign saying "Train Rides" and we pulled into the parking lot of the Griffith Park & Southern Railroad. I gave my card to our engineer who told me the ticket office opened at 10:00 AM and the train would run shortly thereafter. She also told me the length of the ride was one mile.
Griffith Park & Southern RailroadLocated near Los Feliz Boulevard and Riverside Drive at the South end of Griffith Park, GPS Railroad occupies a location where miniature trains have operated since the late 1940's. The earliest record we have of a train operation begins in 1948 but these is some evidence that a train was there in 1946.
The current ride was built in the mid-1960's. The station, passenger loading structure, train barn, tunnel and bridge were all built at that time. The track is approximately one mile long and the gauge is 18.5 inches, which is almost exactly one-third the gauge of standard railroads. This gauge is unique to our knowledge in the United States.
The trains that run at GPS are one-third scale reproductions of classic American trains of the 20th Century. The Freedom Train is one of the original trains that operated in the 1950's. It and the others are not exact scale models but rather provide the same look and feel as the full-sized trains in a smaller, more usable package. GP Rah Enterprises, LLC operates specialty family recreation facilities under various concession contracts in Griffith Park in Los Angeles. It has operated the Griffith Park & Southern Railroad since 1972 and the Travel Town Railroad since 1978. It also operates a simulator ride at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad. We are currently pursuing other opportunities in California and elsewhere.
Some StatisticsOur miniature railroads carry almost 600,000 passengers each year. Weather permitting, we operate 364 days a year, closing only on Christmas Day. The trains travel over several bridges, including a 60 foot long wood and steel box girder bridge. We also go through an 80 foot tunnel and past several attractions, including the Western Old Town. We make two loops around the outdoor exhibit of historically-significant locomotives and passenger cars. We have five locomotives and 21 passenger coaches available for operation year round in the parks.
Operating at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad are: The Colonel Griffith - 2-8-0 locomotive built by Severn Lamb Ltd. in 1983, The Freedom Train - a streamliner built by the All American Streamliner Company of Los Angeles and The Stanley Diamond - a 2-6-0 mogul built by Gerry Bowden in 1993. There are ten Pullman-style, five-seat steel coaches built by All American Streamliner of Los Angeles, as well as three six-seat wood gondolas built by Skeets Simpson in 1993 after a design by Erik Thomsen of Redwood Valley Railway. Our Trip and Ride
One purchases a ticket from a window at the station. Once they were ready, the conductor took our tickets but allowed us to photograph the engines of both trains.
Our train would be pulled by Colonel Griffith, a 2-8-0 locomotive, built by Severn Lamb Ltd. in 1983.
The other train would be pulled by the Stanley Diamond, a 2-6-0 mogul, built by Gerry Bowden in 1993.
Both trains waiting for their departure time. We both boarded one of the cars midway back for our first ride on this unique park railroad.
After our engineer rang the bell and said "All Aboard!", we departed the station area.
We left the Stanley Diamond behind.
The water tower.
Rounding a couple of curves.
A rooster along our route.
Pony rides in Griffith Park.
More curves.
Passing through a Patriotic Tunnel of Colours.
Robin exiting the tunnel.
On the way to the large curve at the south.
We would cross this bridge in a few minutes.
Almost to the south curve, which we would travel around.
The large curve enabled good photographs.
Approaching the bridge.
Crossed the bridge.
Proceeding to the next curve leading to the tunnel.
Our passage through the tunnel.
Robin was really enjoying himself.
This part of Griffith Park features several different types of trees.
We passed the home of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
We soon came to a clearing.
The water tower, station and the other trainset.
Rounding yet another curve.
Griffith Gulch.
Running through Griffith Gulch to reach the north loop.
The large sweeping north curve.
We passed under a trellis.
Nearly back to the station area.
We had returned to the station area where we detrained.
The rear of the two trains at the station. I then exited the platform and thanked the crew for a great ride.
A final view of the station before we drove to our next destination of the morning. I had really enjoyed my trip on the Griffith Park & Southern Railroad.
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