Roeding Park and the rideable train

[jjjmom]

Hello fellow lost fresnans! When I was little my favorite part of Roeding Park was the miniature train that traveled around the park. I remember it being called the Rotary Chief. One day I asked the train engineer if I could sit up front with him but there wasn't room. I found this old photo of the Rotary Chief, looks pretty cool even by today's standards.

[Lost Fresno Guest]

Here's another shot of the Roeding Chief crossing the fabled Dinky Creek.

[Lost Fresno]

The train below isn't the rideable one but when I was a kid you could climb all over it and even twist the knobs and wheels in the engineer area. It's the Southern Pacific 1238 but now it's all fenced in.

[Ghost of Al Radka]

Didn't the rideable train go through a tunnel?

[Lost Fresno]

Why yes, I think it did. I only rode it once, seems like a million years ago now.

Switching topics here, as owner of Lost Fresno, I want to welcome the Ghost of Al Radka to the forum. If I am not mistaken, you are responsible for writting many of Al Radka's jingles. Am I correct?

[sjvalleydave]

The train still goes through a tunnel on Playland at Roeding Park...

[iloverabbits]

Here is a map of Roeding Park dated 1964. I can see the miniature train tracks at the lower left. Although I grew up in Fresno in the 50s and 60s and went to Roeding a hundred times, I never had the honor of riding that train!

[Lost Fresno]

Take a ride on the train! There's no admission fee for playing this video.