A choo-choo at the zoo?
One of my favorite child-hood memories was always going to the zoo. It wasn't just about seeing the animals though... It was about getting to ride a train! Hearing the loud "toot-toot" of the train's whistle while walking through the zoo meant one thing, the train was running!
Growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, the closest train ride to me was at our local zoo. While I have always loved trains, zoo trains will always hold a special place in my heart because this was the train I got to ride most often as a child.
Me as a child riding my favorite train at the Pittsburgh Zoo back in 1998.
When most people think of a zoo, they think about the animals. Overtime, zoos in America started adding entertainment options, including rides, to bring in extra revenue. Carousels and trains are two of the most common rides seen at zoos around the world.
The Serengeti Express steam train at Busch Gardens Tampa chugs past a hungry Zebra.
But why a train? It isn't just for the kids! A train ride offers families the ability to sit down and rest their feet after walking through the zoo. Zoo trains can be a great way to see animal exhibits from a different perspective. They can also offer a unique way to transport guests around a park.
The San Francisco Zoo's "Little Puffer" is a miniature live steam train that was built in 1904. It started chugging around the San Francisco Zoo in 1925.
For over a century zoo trains have been chugging along at zoos, bringing smiles to families and fulfilling the dreams of train-lovers at heart! From small steam trains to larger gas-powered trains, zoo trains also can have a unique history that often go unnoticed.
The Turtleback Zoo in West Orange, New Jersey currently has 3 gasoline powered C.P. Huntington trains. #199 was actually the zoo's third train but is currently the oldest one operating at the zoo.
While zoo trains will not be the only trains highlighted in this blog, the purpose is to highlight the unique histories of the miniature railroads that have brought so many memories to families and friends over the years. Follow along with me on a "Zoo Train Adventure" as I share some of the little trains that have made a huge impact on zoos and their patrons over the years!