L.A. Live Steamers Ghost Train 2018 Video & Photos
Hollywood Gothique never lets October go by without taking a trip aboard the Los Angeles Live Steamers Ghost Train in Griffith Park, yet somehow the annual Halloween attraction manages to surprise us every time. Over the years, the Ghost Train has grown in scale, adding more elaborate effects until it now feels like a Halloween version of Disneyland – a fantasy world with enough magic to enchant children of all ages. Simultaneously, its seasonal spirit has grown somewhat more sinister: a decade ago, the train ride felt like a road trip past a series of kid-friendly yard haunts; now it’s loaded with mechanical monsters, digital ghosts, and ominous atmosphere – though still maintaining the equivalent of a PG-13 rating that will not traumatize children attracted by its more wondrous elements.
Halloween 2018 features several spectacular additions: a steam punk section, digitally projected zombies, and full-size dinosaurs. Best of all, the Ghost Train’s first “stop” is Castle Frankenstein, where the monster writhes on his slab as electrical equipment bestows the spark of animation upon him (an effect created by CalHaunts for the MidSummer Scream convention in August, which you can view here).
We captured all of this and more in the embedded video. Check it out – or better yet, take a ride on the Ghost Train yourself. The Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum is located in Griffith Park at 5202 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, 90027. The Ghost Train resumes service on October 26-28 and 30-31; hours are 7-10pm. Get more info at lals.org.
