Western Pacific Railroad Museum — Attraction in Portola

A yearly must for us locals. It's definitely cold, but always something short, sweet and fun too with the kids.. This year had a new Mr and Ms Claus.. definitely not a home run on Santa for sure.. But I guess I'm just not use to the new one.. the same gentleman has been Santa in all of Portolas Holiday festivities for well over 30 years until he retired his suit and sleigh last year. He has been Santa for not only myself but my older brothers as well as all of our children throughout the years. And idk if anyone can be the man in red quite like he was.

To Mr Dave Rudolph of Old Town Portola California, thank you for the many years of Holiday Cheer you have to do many of us.. from the time we were children on into the next generation.. I'm glad my kids knew what it was like to have Santa like you..

Enjoy your retirement, it's well deserved.. you'll forever be our Santa...

Imagine yourself operating a full-sized diesel locomotive on real railroad trackage, wearing an engineer’s hat, blowing the whistle and grinning from ear to ear. This dream can come to life through the “Run-A-Locomotive” program (R-A-L) at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum located at Portola. Their world famous “Run-A-Locomotive” program allows you to rent a vintage diesel locomotive and operate it on the museum grounds, under the close supervision from your own private qualified engineer instructor. A certificate suitable for framing is awarded after every locomotive rental. The R-A-L program permits up to four persons to receive instructions while sharing the cost. There are no age restrictions but parent supervision is required for children under...

Great for kids who love trains they're pretty amazing and to be able to actually go on the trains and see everything instead of looking from behind glass or roped off you get to see and feel it for real. We got to go on The California Zephyr and that was really cool!!!! This is the only Railroad Museum that I know of that does Pumpkin train rides on Halloween where you can get a pumpkin, ride the ghost train ,go inside a Haunted rail car and get free hot beverages and desserts not only on Halloween but on Christmas as well, the have the Christmas train rides, take a picture with Santa, free hot beverages and desserts , a gift shop, train tours and everyone who works there are very nice and polite and very helpful! It's a fun place to go for the...