Ghost Town & Calico Railroad

Operating out of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad is one of the most significant narrow-gauge heritage operations in the United States. Founded in 1952 by Walter Knott, the railroad was established specifically to preserve the vanishing history of the American West. It features an extraordinary roster of authentic equipment rescued from the legendary Denver & Rio Grande Western and Rio Grande Southern railroads. Passengers board 19th-century yellow wooden coaches—some of the last of their kind in operation—pulled by powerful C-19 Baldwin steam locomotives built in 1881. The 10-minute narrated excursion circles the park’s historic Ghost Town, offering a rare opportunity to experience the sights, sounds, and coal-smoke atmosphere of a genuine 19th-century mountain railway.