Haunted Train 2024

All children must be accompanied by an adult! Because the ride is at night, for safety reasons every child age 4 and under must sit on an adult's lap (they will also be able to see over the side of the train). All trains are ADA accessible.

ARRIVE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EARLY FOR CHECK-IN! This means 30 minutes BEFORE the departure time shown on your ticket. Make sure you allow plenty of time for Bay Area traffic! Last minute traffic incidents might impact your driving time. I suggest that you arrive plenty early and get dinner nearby (there are restaurants within 1-3 miles of Ardenwood).

Remember you should be lined up to Check-in at least 30 minutes BEFORE your scheduled train departure time (the time shown on your ticket).

IMPORTANT— You must be on-board and seated before the train departs. Trains will depart on time! If you miss your train, you will not get a train ride. The Haunted Train sells out so there will not be seats on later trains.

Double-check the dates and times of your tickets before purchasing. Tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE and NO Exchanges, NO Exceptions.

There are no refunds for weather unless the train is cancelled by the Event Organizer.

BEFORE you purchase tickets read all of the FAQs.

FAQs

Use the Eventbrite PHONE APP to show your tickets at the Check-in gate. We also suggest you take a screenshot of your cell phone tickets to make sure you have them available just in case you lose cell coverage. You do not need to print tickets.

REMEMBER! Arrive for CHECK-IN at least 30 minutes before your train departure time (the time shown on your tickets)! We will begin Check-In 30 minutes before your train departs. Seating is first come, first served, so the earlier you are in line the more likely your party can be seated together. Trains will depart on time! We cannot hold up the train if you or members of your party are late.

Please double-check the dates and times of your tickets BEFORE purchasing. Tickets are Non-Refundable, and there are No Exchanges--NO EXCEPTIONS.

ENTRANCE/FREE PARKING - The address is 34600 Ardenwood Blvd. in Fremont CA. The Check-in location is at the Ardenwood Farm train station entrance gate. Please drive SLOWLY in the parking lot! It is very dark and there will be families with small children walking to and from the train.

What time to arrive - To guarantee your seats on the train, all members of your group must arrive for CHECK-IN a MINIMUM of 30 minutes before your train’s scheduled departure time. Once again, Check-in begins 30 minutes before the time printed on your tickets. Your party must line up for Check-in together if you want to be seated together. Use the Eventbrite App to show your tickets at the gate.

Bay Area Traffic - Make sure you allow plenty of time for the Bay Area traffic and traffic construction. Traffic is especially heavy on Friday nights.

· REFUND POLICY - Tickets are non-refundable, and there are no exchanges once purchased. The ONLY exception is when trains do not operate due to a severe weather event, such as high winds or heavy rain, and we have to cancel the event for safety. See the section below titled “What if it’s windy or raining?” for more details.

· If I arrive late for Check-in will my group be able to sit together? There is no guarantee later arrivals will get to sit together. We begin Check-in 30 minutes before each train (that is 30 minutes BEFORE the time on your tickets), so make sure your entire group arrives plenty early. For example, if you have 7:30pm tickets, arrive for Check-in before 7:00pm; if you have 9:00pm tickets, arrive for Check-in before 8:30pm, etc.

· What happens if I am late for my train? You and your group will miss riding the train. No refunds for late arrivals, NO EXCEPTIONS. We cannot put you on another train because all trains sell out ahead of time and there aren’t any seats available.

· Can I bring a stroller? You can use a stroller while waiting in line, but you must park it before getting onboard the train.

· How many tickets can I buy? You can buy up to 30 tickets.

· Can we reserve a train car for our group? You can reserve a private car, but you must purchase 30 tickets in one order (you can bring fewer people, but you still must buy 30 tickets). Contact us at the email below after you purchase your group’s tickets (one person must purchase ALL tickets for the group). We will email you instructions on where to meet so we can board your group first.

· Can I buy tickets at the ticket window? The Haunted Train is a fundraiser for our nonprofit railroad museum. Tickets are only sold on Eventbrite.com.

· How "Scary" is the ride? The ride is a fun and spooky, never scary, Halloween experience suitable for families with children under age 12. NOTHING WILL JUMP OUT, AND THERE ARE NO LOUD NOISES. We use a speaker system on the train so that riders can hear the actors and the narrator. The train passes through a dark forest with illuminated scenes that include actors which are separated by colorful Halloween decorations. The narrator on board the train provides a fun story. There is no gore or violence.

· How long is the ride? The ride is approximately 20 minutes long.

· Are food and drinks allowed on the train? No food or drinks are allowed because the train is made up of historic railroad cars built over 100 years ago. Water is okay and formula for babies is okay.

· What type of clothing should we wear? The train operates outdoors in open railroad cars. Wear suitable clothing... it can be cold, foggy and windy at night and occasionally we have rain. If rain is predicted, bring raincoats or ponchos.

· Can we wear costumes? Children can wear costumes as long as they are no wider than the child’s body. Costumes must not interfere with the person seated next to the child… anything that protrudes, such as fairy wings or super hero wings, is not allowed. Costumes that might frighten small children are definitely NOT PERMITTED (no ghoul or scary masks, no exceptions). For safety we do not allow masks on any teenagers or adults. Also, no costumes with lights are allowed because they will interfere with safe train operations at night.

· What if it is raining or there are high winds? The trains will run in the rain and wind as long as it is safe to operate. Refunds will be given only if the Event Organizer decides it is not safe to operate the train. If there is heavy rain or high winds before opening time, and the weather service predicts the heavy rain and/or high winds will continue, we will send out an email notice to that night’s Eventbrite ticket holders as soon as possible notifying them of the train cancellation. We will process refunds including ticket fees within 48 hours. This has only happened a few times since we began this event 30 years ago.

· Can I take pictures or video while on the ride? Yes, but you must STAY SEATED (unless the train crew tell you it is okay to stand up) and KEEP THE FLASH TURNED OFF. This is a safety concern because the flash can affect the night vision of the train crew and the actors. Please be respectful and keep your camera low so you do not block the view of the other passengers.

· Is commercial photography or videography allowed? Commercial photography and videography must be authorized by the Event Organizer in advance. Please contact the Event Organizer at [email protected] for more information.

· You sound like a fun group, so how can I get involved? We ARE a fun group! If you would like to become a volunteer at our events, email [email protected]. We are always looking for volunteers to be actors on the Haunted Train, as well as people to help us put together and decorate the sets and take-down the sets each night; organize people into lines at the entrance, and more. If you would like to join our Railroad Museum and receive our newsletter the "Narrow Gauge Journal" ($20 per year), go to our website www.spcrr.org--click on "SPCRR," and "Become a Member."

· How do I contact you if I have more questions? Email questions to [email protected]. NOTE: We cannot answer emails on event days because we are all busy setting up the Haunted Train. Email all questions about the Haunted Train at least 48 hours in advance. For general questions call 510-544-2797.

We THANK YOU for supporting our museum! We are a non-profit 501(c)(3) railroad museum and your tickets are tax deductible. If you would like to make a donation to our museum, go to our website www.spcrr.org and click "Donate" at the top of the page. All of the money that we receive goes toward restoring the historic railroad cars in our collection.

Host or Publisher SPCRR