Our History
Billy Jones was a railroad man for nearly his entire life. He was born in 1884 in Ben Lomond, California, and at age 13, he began his railroad emplooyment as a roustabout with the South Pacific Coast Railroad. He would eventually work for the Southern Pacific Railroad running locomotives up and down the California coast until his retirement in 1950.
In 1939, Billy was on a layover in San Francisco and noticed a rusty old steam locomotive in a scrap yard destined to be shipped to Japan. Billy decided to purchase the one-third scale locomotive and then transferred it to his ranch located in Los Gatos and would spend countless hours restoring the engine. The No. 2 would go on to be the centerpiece of Billy's railroad which eventually opened on his ranch in 1943.
For 25 years, Billy ran the "Wildcat Railroad" on his ranch free of charge, accepting donations as his only form of payment. Children and families from all over the valley enjoyed coming to his ranch and experiencing the thrill of riding behind a real steam engine. One of the many guests to the Wildcat Railroad was none other than Walt Disney who became fast-friends with Billy and often invited him to visit Disneyland and engineer on the Disneyland Railroad.
Photo courtesy of Jones’ Family Collection
Billy was also an active member in the community and involved himself in a number of charitable organizations. He would often donate to various children's hospitals, orphanages and special-interest groups, but only on the condition he remained anonymous.
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Billy passed away in January 1968, but his railroad would continue serving the Town of Los Gatos and the surrounding community for generations to come. The railroad first opened in Oak Meadow Park in 1970.
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Following Billy's death, a group of civic-minded businesspeople decided the Wildcat Railroad needed to be saved. They formed a group which founded Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, Inc. - a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation of railroad history, affordable family entertainment and the education of youth. The entire railroad was then transferred to a parcel of land in the adjoining Oak Meadow and Vasona Parks in Los Gatos. Structures, including an engine house and train depot, along with nearly a mile of track, would eventually be built. A bridge spanning Los Gatos Creek was also installed utilizing an old Southern Pacific flatcar. Finally, on July 26, 1970, the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad began operation and continues to this day.
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The Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is known worldwide. The railroad and its famous No. 2 steam locomotive have been featured in numerous publications and television programs including On the Road with Charles Kuralt and CBS 5's Eye on the Bay. Most importantly, however, is the joy that the railroad continues to give to the young and young-at-heart who enjoy the thrill of riding the rails. By 1992, the railroad was averaging well over 100,000 riders each year.