Rail Fair at Ardenwood Farm

Sunday, September 3rd, Frank and I took Alex to a Rail Fair held at Ardenwood Historic Farm. The light, breezy weather was absolutely gorgeous - ever so slightly warm in the sun and ever so slightly cool in the shade. To leave our home in Livermore, pick up Alex in San Ramon, and drive on to Ardenwood in Fremont took just under an hour.

Ardenwood Historic Farm offers a glimpse into life on a family farm between 1890 and 1930. Step back in time as you explore the remnants of the once vast estate of George and Clara Patterson, whose family farmed the land for over 100 years, beginning in the 1850s. East Bay Regional Park District has operated the property as a fully functioning, turn-of-the-last-century farm since 1985.

 

The poster at the entry gate hinted at lots of fun ahead, although it is hard to tell from the serious, determined look on Alex's face.

We stopped off to get some cold drinks and then went on to a model railroad exhibit in one of the first buildings off to our left. Frank eagerly plunged on ahead. Alex preferred to grab a seat on an old trunk near the entrance and thoroughly enjoy the sunshine and his lemonade, a new found favorite beverage of his. Even posing for pictures outside afterward at a photo op spot, Alex's priority was slurping with satisfaction on that all precious lemonade. Of course we bought him at least one more later on during the outing.

After the model railroad exhibit, further straight on were hutches for rabbits and chicks. Alex liked feeding straw to the bunnies. Frank and I were a bit apprehensive about what his reactions would be since his own bunny had passed away only a few weeks earlier. We had worried needlessly; Alex was fine.

We walked on over to the Deer Park Station to catch a ride on a train of ~15 minute duration. The train went up and back and did not do a loop. At the far end passengers needed to disembark and let those waiting at the station board for a ride back in the opposite direction. Rather than walking back we elected to wait for the train to complete another round trip. Then we road it back in the return direction.

Along the way we saw antique farm equipment and old railroad locomotives.

We stood and watched as a train passed by the railroad crossing. The green car pulling the train is "Katie", a diesel locomotive. At either end of the train run, we watched Katie disconnect and move from one end of line of cars to the other end to pull them back in the opposite direction.

The Rail Fair ran from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We were there from about 11:00 AM until 3:30 PM, leisurely strolling the grounds, having a comfort food lunch of hot dogs and mac 'n cheese. Later we ate home-baked goods for snacks... and lemonade, of course. It had been an enjoyable, low-key outing.