Orange County Model Engineers — Local services in Costa Mesa

Great outing for kids! Every third weekend is free to ride the trains! They were running about 5 trains, with 4-5 passenger cars each train. Each passenger car held 3-5 people depending on size of the party. The train did two laps with each lap running about 5 min.

Must meet a height to get on the train and no lap child's allowed on the train. There is also plenty of parking and restroom facilities. There is a little shop selling some toys and refreshments and a canopy setup to sell some grilled food. There are volunteer societies setup for kids to play with toys trains too. Not much shade on the train route so bring some sun cover, sun glasses...

We went on a Sunday afternoon, and after a quick donation per person, we only waited about 20 minutes before climbing aboard. Our whole crew even got to sit together in the same car — now that’s what I call VIP service! 😎

Right before departure, the conductor gave a big ol’ shout, and off we went — chugging along just like a real train! From the scenic views to the ding-ding of railroad crossings and the clackety-clack of the tracks, it was 100% real train vibes — tracks, rumbles, and all — just fun-sized for maximum charm. 🚂✨

All aboard the imagination express! Huge shoutout to the amazing railway engineers and crew for making the magic happen —...

This place is great for families with small children or anyone who enjoys trains. There is a height requirement for very small children.. It has been here and operating for over 30 years. One weekend a month they give free train rides. Donations are requested. You can see all kinds of wildlife from the train. It is mostly volunteer run and all the volunteers are kind, helpful and knowledgeable. They even book private parties and have special events throughout the year.The restrooms are clean and even have food vendors. I enjoy bringing a picnic lunch and watching the trains...