Field Trip: The Crystal Beach Train Ride – Part 2 of 2

We continue with our history of the Crystal Beach train ride. When the Amusement Park finally closed around 1989, all of its assets were auctioned off or demolished. The train ride which was privately owned, moved to a private site in Niagara Falls where it ran on 1,200 feet of track.

When the property owner eventually sold his house, the train was sold to Puddicombe Farms in Winona, Ontario (just west of Hamilton).  Since 1997 Crystal Beach's miniature train has been operating at the Puddicombe Farm and Winery. Having taken on a new name, “Little Pudd”, and a new look, the train winds its way through orchards and vineyards and along waterways on the farm providing enjoyable half hour long rides.

We visited Puddicombe Farms on Labour Day and enjoyed the winery, market store, small zoo (with rescued animals) and the train ride. Below you will find pictures from our visit.  Note that they have also rescued a number of pieces of full size railway rolling stock.  One of them, TH&B caboose #71, has been restored and made available for overnight stays. Puddicombe's is well worth a family visit and is open primarily on weekends in September and October.   Click here to visit their website and learn more.

To read a very detailed history of the Crystal Beach miniature railway, click here and scroll down the page to  the article titled "Where Is It Now? The Crystal Beach C.P. Huntington Train".

Click here to read part 1 of this posting

Posting and photos by Russ Milland

Click on each image for a closer look!

C.P. Huntington and train set at Puddicombe Farms

TH&B #71 Caboose

TH&B #71 Caboose

"Across from the station"

Summerville Station

2 foot gauge trackwork

Rails into the orchards