The star of the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad will be honored on July 24, but the little locomotive won't steal the show—the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad is celebrating its 35th year of operation at Oak Meadow and Vasona parks.

In honor of the two birthdays, there will be a free all-day celebration at Oak Meadow Park.

The nonprofit miniature train has two operating engines and more than 100,000 passengers a year, said Peter Panacy, executive director of the railroad.

One of the first West Coast miniature railroads was in Venice Beach in the 1900s, Panacy said. It served as a leisure activity, but he said that it also functioned as a commuter train.

"It was an early version of BART," he said.

Today, it is strictly a tourist train.

Panacy said many of the railroad's visitors are from Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga. However, he said it also attracts tourists and train enthusiasts from across the United States and the world.

The railroad was originally located on the property of Billy Jones, a Los Gatos resident who starting working for Southern Pacific Rail when he was 13 years old. He constructed the Billy Jones Railroad on his ranch on Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard after buying No. 2, a 1905 prairie type locomotive designed by John Coit for the Venice Miniature Railway. Track construction began in 1941, and two years later the first round-trip was made in his orchard, where it ran for the next 25 years.

After Jones died in 1968, friends and family members kept the railroad alive.

A group of businessmen formed a nonprofit corporation to purchase the railroad and relocate it in a corner of Oak Meadow Park, where its been since 1970.

Today, the railroad gets a lot of support from the community because many remember riding it when they were children.

Paul Grabeel, who grew up in the Santa Cruz Mountains, said he first rode the railroad when he was a child, and has since passed the tradition down to his grandchildren.

"I remember riding the train when it was still on Daves Avenue. Billy Jones put a jar out and we would put in pennies and nickels, and then ride the train," he said.

Although the track has moved, it continues to appeal to all age groups.

"There's a lot of support for the railroad. It's one of the unique places to go in this area," said Grabeel, president of the Los Gatos Lions Club. Grabeel, along with other members from the Lions Club, a community service group, was at the railroad July 12 in preparation for the celebration on July 24.

They offered to paint all existing buildings at the park, he said, despite the near 90-degree weather.

Also in preparation for the event, volunteers and workers pruned the trees, set up chairs, and, most importantly, polished No. 2.

Panacy expects about 3,000 people to celebrate the anniversaries.

Children under 12 will ride free, and it is $1 per ride on both the train and carousel.

From 9 to 11:30 a.m., there will be guided tours of the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad, carousel rides from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and train rides from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. The anniversary ceremony will begin at noon.

There will be a snack shack at the event, but Panacy also suggested that folks bring their lunches. Parking is $5 per car.

For more information, call 408.395.7433.