BILLY JONES WILDCAT RAIL ROAD —51 Year Anniversary Opening! Los Gatos, CA

Do you love trains and history? Do you often wonder what would be like to be on the rails with a steam locomotive in front of you? Well I do… Luckily this itch can be scratched in Los Gatos California at a magical place named Oak Meadow Park. A local park that has been open for 58 years. William Jones or “Billy Jones “was born in 1884 in Ben Lomond, CA. Starting as a wiper on locomotives he worked his way up the ladder and became an engineer. He fell in love with steam locomotives and so did his two sons. On a trip to San Francisco he spotted an old miniature steam locomotive that was used as a transit vehicle in Venice Beach California. He could not say no, so for $100 he bought this magical machine and restored it to its full grace! After losing both sons in World War II, Billy Jones, in honor of his sons, opened a railway for all the local children to come ride every Sunday on his ranch. Word spread far and wide and caught many peoples attention including Walt Disney… Billy Jones continued to run his miniature locomotive on his ranch until he died in 1968 and gifted it to the city of Los Gatos where it now resides at Oak Meadow Park for all to still enjoy!