Western Railway Museum Wildflower Tour

Don’t you just love spring? It’s such a colorful, happy time with so many things to see and do. One of my favorite trips is to the Western Railway Museum on Highway 12, between Fairfield and Rio Vista. During the month of April you can take a peaceful, short train ride out into the country to see the wildflowers. I recommend going near the end of the month when you will see the most blooms.

As a small child, I lived in San Rafael with my grandparents. They loved riding the train and we would travel from San Rafael to Santa Rosa and back. They celebrated my 5th birthday on a train, so that is probably my fascination with old trains. The electric trains at the Western Railway Museum date back to 1890 (before I was born, for sure), and have red velvet covered seats and stained glass windows. This year there will be two special trains, the Scenic Limited and the Vintage Comet. For a few extra dollars you can have lemonade and cookies during the train trip.

And the wildflowers will knock your socks off. There are California poppies, California Golden Violets, Douglas’s lupines, wild hollyhocks, Red Owl Clover (Orthocarpus purpurascens), Brass Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia)and Tidy Tips (Layia chrysanthemoides). Masses of color swaying in the wind will keep you taking photos.
The train ride is 5 miles out into the countryside and 5 miles back. You will see wind turbines, livestock, butterflies, dragonflies, native wildflowers and the Shiloh Presbyterian Church built in 1870. It is a fun and relaxing event so mark your April calendar.

For Additional information refer to www.wrm.org or call (707)374-2978.

Passengers on the Western Railway. photos by Sharon Rico