Haystack Landing for kids
The Egg Train to the Boats. A true story near Petaluma, CA, told for kids 6-8.
Read along
Toot toot! Long ago, right near here, a little railroad had a very special job. It carried eggs! And baby chicks, and grain too. The train rolled to a dock on the river.
From there, trade traveled along the Petaluma River toward San Francisco Bay. Picture lots of peeps and cluck-clucks, all heading toward the big city! This little railroad started running on August first, 1864. It was only the third railroad in all of California. That is a very early train.
Now look out the window. Can you spot the river? Can you see where an old dock might have been? Make your best chick sound. Peep peep!
Quiz the back seat
What did the little railroad carry to the boats?
Show the answer
Eggs and chicks. Eggs and chicks! It also carried grain, which is food for farm animals.
3 fun facts
- The Petaluma and Haystack Railroad began service on August 1, 1864.
- It was only the third railroad in California.
- Eggs, chicks, and grain were the most commonly traded goods.
For grown-ups
Written with AI from public sources, then checked claim by claim against the sources below before it was published; stories that don't pass stay off the app and this site. Narration is pre-recorded, and nothing you do on this page is tied to your kids.
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Town and county names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).