Wild Cat Railroad
Riding the Wild Cat
by Rudy Arnold, Mechanix Illustrated, July 1962
Casey Jones is more than a legend to kids living in and around Los Gatos, California. He's a real live railroad man named William "Casey" Jones, a retired locomotive engineer. Jones' hobby since the early Forties has been the building and operating of his Wildcat Railroad. Its circular 1,940-foot track runs through a picturesque orchard. Every Sunday "Casey" climbs aboard his 4-1/2 ton home-built prairie engine, opens the throttle and chugs around the orchard hauling three passenger cars full of happy kids. And--except when "Casey's" rolling stock is turned over to some charitable organization for money-raising purposes--there's never any fare to pay.
See also Steam up on the Backyard Railroad.
Highballer Billy "Casey" Jones brings his 47-hp Prairie Engine 'round Orchard Bend.
Free Rides are given about 300 kids each Sunday. Here's a typical Sunday trainload.
Engineer Jack Dair oils all wheel bearings before starting on the day's runs.
Real steam locomotive runs five hours on 85 gallons of fuel oil.
Water stop is made under the Wild Cat's own water tower; and then--back to work.
Kids play in caboose on the siding. For birthday occasions it's hitched to train.
Venice Miniature Railroad
Harry Dixon wrote The Miniature Locomotive, November-December 1954:
- Any of you live steamers visiting in the San Francisco Bay Area should see Billy Jones' Wildcat Railroad at Los Gatos, California. He has some old time rolling stock and locomotives that were used in the 1915 World's Fair. This line is in 18 inch gauge and he is usually operating on Sundays. The picture shows Billy at the throttle waiting to get the out-of-town high ball.
