Poway-Midland Railroad
4.6· 74 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-24- TypeVolunteer-run 42-inch-gauge heritage railway inside Old Poway Park
- LocationPoway, CA
- Rating4.6 ★74 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Aug 29
About Poway-Midland Railroad
Poway-Midland Railroad is a volunteer-run heritage railway operating on a 42-inch-gauge loop inside City-owned Old Poway Park. The current schedule rotates a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive, a battery-electric 1906 San Francisco cable car, and a 1953 Fairmont speeder. Rides typically last 10-15 minutes. Saturdays normally operate 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m., with no operation on the second Sunday. Exact equipment assignments, special-event hours, maintenance, staffing, rain, and a published 95°F heat cutoff can override the pattern.
Choose the Equipment Before You Go
Choose the visit that fits your groupFamilies, equipment-focused railfans, photographers, and repeat riders
Choose steam, cable car, or speeder
Use exact August-September assignments and the live page because equipment can change.
First-time visitors, families, group leaders, and budget planners
Buy at the depot
Bring cash or card; there are no online sales and current depot fares differ for speeder versus locomotive or cable car.
Summer travelers, distant day-trippers, caregivers, and special-event visitors
Plan around heat
Treat the Friday 95°F NWS forecast rule as a hard cancellation trigger and recheck rain, staffing, and maintenance.
Wheelchair users, visitors with limited mobility, caregivers, and group planners
Call about boarding access
The steam train has an accessible first coach, while cable car and speeder limitations require a specific pre-visit check.
Local-history travelers, families, market shoppers, and picnic groups
Explore Old Poway Park
Add the onsite museum, Nelson House, Saturday markets, picnic grounds, and City events without another drive.
Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
Complete remaining 2026 public operating calendar derived from the official Saturday/Sunday pattern, second-Sunday closure, exact August-September assignments, and separately published special-event dates. Exact equipment is named only where published. Weather, maintenance, staffing, event changes, and the Friday 95-degree forecast rule still control. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- AccessibilityThe steam train's first coach is wheelchair-accessible; cable car and speeder can have limitations, so contact the operator
- DurationTypical ride lasts about 10-15 minutes
- TicketsDepot-only on ride days; no online sales; cash and credit cards accepted
- Locomotive And Cable FaresAdults 13+ $5; children 2-12 $2; under 2 free
- Speeder FaresAdults 13+ $4; children 2-12 $2; under 2 free
- Family Pass$50 annual immediate-family pass
- Normal HoursSaturday 10 a.m.-1:45 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-1:45 p.m.; final regular ride 1:45 p.m.
- Closure PatternNo operation on the second Sunday; special events can use different hours
- Heat And WeatherFriday NWS forecast of 95°F or higher for Saturday or Sunday cancels that date; rain, excessive heat, maintenance, or staffing can also cancel
- StrollersNot allowed aboard coaches, ore cars, or cable car; park in the designated area; baby carriers are allowed
- Pets And FoodPets ride only at the Station Agent's discretion; food and drinks are allowed in the park but not on the train
- GroupsUp to 30 riders on cable car or speeder and 65 on locomotive trains; Saturday group rides only after noon
- Assignment BoundaryPublished equipment can change because of maintenance or other operating challenges
- Address14134 Midland Road, Poway, CA 92064 · volunteer phone 858-486-4063
Find the Depot
The Trains
The operating roster includes Baldwin No. 3, a 1907 class 4-11C 0-4-0T rebuilt with a tender and currently fired with diesel No. 2; battery-electric California Street Cable Railroad car No. 17, built in 1906; and a Fairmont speeder that the roster dates to 1950 while the summary calls it 1953. Because the operator's own pages conflict on the speeder year, this guide preserves that discrepancy rather than selecting one. Passenger equipment includes the replica Paquay Valley coach, an open-air coach, and four 1880s mining gondolas converted for passengers. Current assignment and consist can change.
History
Baldwin completed No. 3 for the Cowell cement operation.
John Porter bought the locomotive, cars, and track for his Poway railway.
The City of Poway acquired the Porter property and railroad collection.
Volunteers organized and the City ratified the restoration and operating agreement.
Restored No. 3 made its inaugural Poway-Midland passenger run on July 4.
The operator published exact late-summer equipment assignments and a complete weekend operating pattern.
See full history
Poway expected full-size railroads in the 1880s, but the proposed lines never arrived. John Porter built a short private railway on Midland Road in the 1960s with Baldwin No. 3, which had worked for the Cowell cement operation from 1907 until its 1952 sale. The City acquired Porter's property and equipment in 1987. Volunteers organized in 1991, contracted with the City to restore and operate the railway, and returned No. 3 to public passenger service on July 4, 1997. Research corrected a fabricated 1878 identity applied during an earlier cosmetic rebuild; the restored builder plates record Baldwin serial 30646 and April 1907.
Around the Depot
Old Poway Park is the City-owned host site at zero distance. Its Heritage Museum, Nelson House, Saturday markets, picnic grounds, and events create a full onsite day, while their hours and administration remain distinct from the volunteer railroad.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
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Tours & Activities near Poway
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the ride?
A typical ride lasts about 10-15 minutes around Old Poway Park.
How much are tickets?
Locomotive and cable car: $5 age 13+, $2 age 2-12, free under 2. Speeder: $4 age 13+, $2 age 2-12, free under 2.
Can I buy tickets online?
No. Tickets are sold at the depot on operating days, with cash and credit cards accepted.
Which equipment will run?
The operator publishes exact near-term assignments, but maintenance, weather, staffing, and special events can force substitutions. Check the live calendar.
Is the ride wheelchair-accessible?
The steam train's first coach is wheelchair-accessible. The cable car and speeder can have limitations; contact the operator for the exact date and need.
Can I bring a stroller?
Not aboard the coaches, ore cars, or cable car. Use the designated stroller area; baby carriers are allowed.
Can pets ride?
Only at the Station Agent's discretion. Food and drinks are allowed in the park but not aboard the train.
When does heat cancel service?
If Friday's National Weather Service forecast gives Saturday or Sunday a high of 95°F or more, the operator says that date will be canceled.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 24, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official exact calendar, fares, access, ride length, groups, and rules
- Official equipment roster and specifications
- Official railroad and locomotive history
- Official mission and operating equipment summary
- Official 2026 special-event dates
- City park identity, address, museum, and host relationship
- City and railroad partnership notice
- Licensed exact-site image collection