Last Christmas, I finally got the chance to ride in one of the original Disneyland Railroad cars that are now running on a private railway, the Pacific Coast Railroad, in Santa Margarita, California.
But because it was a nighttime holiday lights ride, I felt like I hadn't gotten the full experience.
So I immediately committed myself to coming back and riding the rails on Santa Margarita Ranch during the day.
Only problem? There's once a year the public can do that: Memorial Day weekend, during the Best of the West Antique Equipment Show. (Otherwise some lucky few get to ride the trains during private events like weddings and such.)
![](https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/l93/pandisoo/P1450031cropLO.jpg)
So, this year I finally hauled my cookies up to the Central Coast to ride the trains—all the trains they offered that weekend, which was three.