Has the Ghost Town & Calico Ry and its narrow guage equipment at Knott's Berry Farm ever been profiled in print in any of the railfan magazines? I am assisting a gentlemen writing a book on Knott's and would like to point him in the right direction. Thanks!

Within the last year or two, I recall coverage about Knott's in a column in Railfan & Railroad.

A good place to ask the question would be over on the narrow gauge discussion forum:
http://www.ngdiscussion.net

He should check back issues of Westways Magazine (a publication of the Auto Club of Southern California) and Sunset Magazine. These are not railfan mags, but may be helpful with other source information.

You may get better responses on the narrow gauge discussion website.

Knotts printed a small but informative booklet (about 60 pages) in 1953 entitled Ghost Town & Calico Railway. While obviously written very early into the line's existence, it provides a good overview of the equipment's background and journey to California, along with many photos. Included is the program from the Golden Spike ceremony, including remarks from Carlton Sills of the Rio Grande. A copy exists in the collection of NMIH in Bethlehem (Mike Piersa must be lurking here somewhere...)

Kurt,
There was a good article "Knott's Berry Farm Goes Rio Grande" by Jeff Terry, in the May 1995 issue of "Railfan & Railroad", with letters from Herb Kelsey & Earl Knoob in next or later issue (no dates). I seem to remember there was also something in "Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette" as well, but just can't put my finger on it at the moment.... Happy hunting!!

Cheers
Ray Ellis

Charlie Getz recently featured Knotts in his column in the Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette. One article was on the railroad and the other was on the western buildings located there. Both articles appeared within the last year.

B. Allan

I have a copy of that booklet in my narrow gauge library some place.

it was published in the early 1950s, but is still to be seen in California railroadannia shows.

The Western Railroader also had I think, a whole issue devoted to the Ghost Town.

I have been there and the cars and engines look great. In recent years they have lost their yellow and orange park colors and are now looking like they should.

Ted Miles

Yes, I am lurking here. I found a copy of the Ghost Town & Calico Railway book in the archives of the National Canal Museum a couple of years ago. The digital pictures I took of the book at that time can be seen online at: http://community.webshots.com/album/558737758hIfAkz

Also included at the end of the album are some shots I took of the line in 2005.

Yep, Charlie did do an article.

But being a long-time Southern California, I spotted a couple of relatively small errors about Knott's, but not the railroad. Like while Knott's once owned the old mining camp of Calico near Barstow and Yermo and developed it as a tourist venue, it is now owned by San Bernardino county.

I'm not sure if you're referring to past history or current ownership. Unless something has changed recently, Knotts Berry Farm is owned by Cedar Fair, LLP (Cedar Point), which also recently bought the Paramount parks - King's Island, King's Dominion, etc. Apparently, in the amusement park game, as well as much of the rest of business, it's either eat or be eaten.