Where O.C. Funseekers Make Tracks

Should “Thomas and the Magic Railroad” draw your family into the train craze, here’s where you’ll want to visit in Orange County:

* Adventure City offers kid-powered crank and roll trains, hundreds of pieces of wooden track that children can design and play with, Thomas trains including models in movie can be played with free, 1/4-mile replica steam engine ride that goes around the perimeter of the park built in 1938. 1238 S. Beach Boulevard at Ball Road, Anaheim, (714) 236-9300. Open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Park opens Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Sept. 10.

* Sarducci’s Capistrano Depot, in a 106-year-old train depot, offers a total train experience. Hear the trains as they come in. See passengers, conductors and trains from the windows. The restaurant offers 12 kids’ meals at $3.95 each. 26701 Verdugo, San Juan Capistrano; (949) 493-9593.

* The Orange County Model Engineers conduct the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad out of Fairview Park the third weekend of every month. Situated on 45 acres of parkland, the railroad is one of the largest layouts of its kind in Southern California. 2501 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa; (949) 548-7246; 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

* The Irvine Park Railroad offers a 10-minute train ride around two lakes and through an oak woodland. The train runs daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange; (714) 633-8072.

* The Children’s Museum at La Habra displays five model trains traveling through miniature villages and countryside. Visitors push buttons that raise crossing gates and turn on lights in a layout designed and maintained by the Toy Train Operating Society. 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra; (562) 905-9793.

* The Santa Ana Zoo offers train rides Saturday at Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 1801 E. Chestnut; (714) 835-7484.

* The Red Car Museum on Main Street in Seal Beach is a rare Pacific Electric tower car built in 1925. It once was a roving machine shop sent out to trouble-shoot problems along the 40-mile Pacific Electric L.A.-to-Newport Line. A museum inside displays photographs and artifacts. Hours vary. (562) 431-9501.

* Amtrak offers special half-price fares for children on some trains. Stations are in Santa Ana and Fullerton. (800) USA-RAIL.

* Disneyland offers Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland--a runaway mine train that is more like a roller coaster. Disneyland Railroad includes working steam engines. The monorail stops at hotels and Tomorrowland. Ball Road and Harbor Boulevard, Anaheim; (714) 781-4565.

* Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town and Calico Railway is a narrow-gauge railroad. Two restored steam locomotives take passengers on a 15-minute tour of the park. A bandit visits on each trip. The Calico Mine Ride is a replica steam engine that explores underground mines. At Camp Snoopy, the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad features miniature replica steam locomotives. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park; (714) 827-1776.