“Tut! Tooth!” A horn blares from a miniature train as it takes adults and children on 16-inch gauge tracks that circle Griffiths Park’s famous Journey Town Museum. On a warm July Wednesday, families got an up-close look at dozens of historic locomotives and train cars in outdoor exhibits. The Journey Town Museum in the northwest area of Griffith Park is home to over 40 historic railway locomotives and cars and is open daily for free from 10am to 5pm.
Henry Chadwick, 9, of North Hollywood, poses for a photo Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in front of the Journey Town Locomotive in Griffith Park. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Locomotives v Gozo Town at Griffiths Park on Wednesday 27th July 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A rail-related sign is seen on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Journey Town in Griffith Park. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People walk by Southern Pacific Locomotive #3025 during a trip to Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
In the year An 1899 Baldwin locomotive at Travel City in Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
In the year An 1899 Baldwin locomotive on a trip to Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People take a break from exploring Journey City in Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Southern Pacific Locomotive #3025 Built in 1904, Griffith Park in Gozo City on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People ride the 16-inch gauge miniature train on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Journey Town in Griffiths Park. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Henry Chadwick, 9, North Hollywood, explore the Journey Town Locomotive in Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Children explore Union Pacific Locomotive #4439 at Journey City in Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People ride the 16-inch gauge miniature train on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Journey Town in Griffiths Park. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Union Pacific locomotive #4439 is on display at Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at Gozo Town. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Locomotive and train cars on display at Journey City in Griffith Park on Wednesday 27 July 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Locomotive and train cars on display at Journey City in Griffith Park on Wednesday 27 July 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Children look at trains at Journey City in Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Trains at Journey Town in Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Locomotive and train cars on display at Journey City in Griffith Park on Wednesday 27 July 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A person takes a photo at Journey City in Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Rain Road at Travel City at Griffiths Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
View Pedro Delgado and son Quentin Delgado, Bell Gardens, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, parking lot at Journey City in Griffith Park. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People ride the 16-inch gauge miniature train at Journey City in Griffith Park on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Locomotive and train cars on display at Journey City in Griffith Park on Wednesday 27 July 2022. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
According to a 1952 City of Los Angeles historical press release on the Travel Town Museum website, the idea for what became Travel Town goes back to William Frederickson Jr. The museum opened in 1952 and the miniature train ride opened to the public in 1978.
Historic locomotives and cars on display include the “Little Nugget”, Union Pacific Dining Car, Santa Fe Motor Car M.177, Pullman Car Hunters Point, Southern Pacific Locomotive No. 219 and Stockton Terminal and Eastern No. 1. Other exhibits feature artifacts from the railroad industry.
