There is a miniature railroad operating right in the middle of Torrance.

At the east end of Wilson Park, the Southern California Live Steamers maintain a working miniature railroad where volunteers build, maintain and operate small-scale trains.

The attraction is easy to miss if your usual Wilson Park routine involves the Farmers Market, softball fields or fitness path.

The City lists public rides on the first Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., along with the third Saturday of the month from March through December from noon to 3 p.m. Rides are free.

For kids, it feels like a small amusement-park ride.

For adults, the fun is often in the machinery itself. Live-steam railroading is a hands-on hobby involving engineering, fabrication and scaled-down versions of real locomotives and railroad equipment.

That makes this one of Torrance’s most unusual family outings — especially considering how many residents may have walked or driven through Wilson Park without realizing there is a miniature railroad operating inside it.

Article Link: Wilson Park Facilities