SeeCalifornia.com

MENDOCINO COAST, CALIF.–The Pumpkin Express, The Christmas Train, and The Beer, Wine & Mushroom Benefit Train are chugging along through some of the tallest redwood forests on the planet to bring you a holiday beyond compare. Climb aboard the vintage Skunk Train in Willits, part of California Western Railroads train services traveling along the Redwoods Route which has been in existence since 1885.

Why call it a Skunk?  Self-powered, yellow “Skunk” rail cars are little trains nicknamed for their gas engines, prompting folks to say, “You can smell ’em before you can see ’em.” Skunk trains were introduced after steam passenger service was discontinued in 1925. The service had begun in 1904 and was extended to the town of Willits in 1911. With tracks already in place,  Skunk trains offered a practical way to make use of the tracks.

An upcoming Mendocino Mushroom Festival November 2-11, 2012 (visitmendocino.com) features the Beer, Wine and Mushroom Ride benefit ride on the Skunk train as part of the annual festival, but you can actually ride the Skunk Train (skunktrain.com) any time, and you don’t need a reason. The coastal redwoods scenery, 30 bridges, 40 miles of ride, birds, flowers and streams all speak  for themselves!