Website:
http://www.ncry.org/ (Website)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niles_Canyon_Railway (Wikipedia)
https://www.ncry.org/contact/ (Contact Us)

Email: [email protected]

Description:
Collection of American freight and passenger railroad equipment. c. 1910's-1960's. Museum operated rail line through the Niles canyon, featuring steep valleys with green trees that look like Appalachia. As well they operate into historic Downtown Niles. Railroad has multiple 1950's era diesels and steam locomotives.

Site Condition:
A Railroad Museum Where the Exhibits Come to Life! The Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. The purpose of the organization is to preserve the physical aspects and atmosphere of Pacific Coast railroading during the period from 1910 to 1960. Our mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public. The museum is designed to increase public education, enjoyment, and appreciation of the significance of America’s western railroads by: Operating historic railroad equipment using standard railroad practices for train crews, signaling, block operations, and equipment maintenance. Preserving the atmosphere of railroads in small-town America before the 1960s by connecting the historic communities of Sunol, the Niles District of Fremont, and eventually Pleasanton. Providing educational programs for schools, civic organizations, and community events. Instructing the public in railroad history, tradition, and the evolution of rail transportation technology. The Pacific Locomotive Association also has railroad artifacts on display and interpretive educational exhibits at the Sunol Depot.

General Notes:
updated 7.21.10 dtm / 9.1.2017 lm / VM & emailed for updates 9/5/24 J.Jackson

Jurisdictions::
Fremont, Pleasanton

Within 30-Mile Zone: N

State Property: No

Closed/Vacant: No

GPS Source:
Google Maps (interactive), x coordinate: 37.5940729, y coordinate: -121.8890161

Contacts:
Alexander, Donna *
Head Station Agent, Niles Canyon Railway
6 Kilkare Road, PO Box 515, 94586
510.996.8420 Phone 1
[email protected]

* Key Contact


photos:

photo ID#: 8315166 - One on the Niles Canyon Railway's historic diesel locomotives, a 1949 Southern Pacific Railroad EMD NW-2 diesel electric locomotive #1423, pulls into the museum’s restored Sunol, CA station.


photo ID#: 8315164 - The Niles Canyon Railway’s M200 railbus sits in its Sunol Station in Sunol, CA as it prepares to take passengers east of Sunol toward the museum’s current end of operating trackage at Happy Valley Bridge in Pleasanton, CA.


photo ID#: 8315165 - The Niles Canyon Railway’s M200 railbus sits in its Sunol Station in Sunol, CA as it prepares to take passengers east of Sunol toward the museum’s current end of operating trackage at Happy Valley Bridge in Pleasanton, CA.


photo ID#: 8315160 - Steam locomotive, Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, pulls a Niles Canyon passenger train east along Highway 84 on its way to the museum’s Sunol, CA train station where passengers will disembark after the 1.5 hour round trip train ride through Niles Canyon.


photo ID#: 8315168 - One of the Niles Canyon Railway’s three operating steam locomotives, Robert Dollar Co. #3, rolls over the historic Farwell Bridge that takes the railroad across both Highway 84 and Alameda Creek. Riders of the Niles Canyon Railway get to experience two historic bridges like this one along their ride.


photo ID#: 8315162 - Steam locomotive, Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, pulls a Niles Canyon passenger train in February 2024 east across Farwell Bridge on its way to the museum’s Sunol, CA train station where passengers will disembark after the 1.5 hour round trip train ride through Niles Canyon. Locomotive #4 will turn 100 years old in March of 2024.


photo ID#: 8315161 - Steam locomotive, Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, pulls a Niles Canyon passenger train east along Highway 84 in February 2024 on its way to the museum’s Sunol, CA train station where passengers will disembark after the 1.5 hour round trip train ride through Niles Canyon. Locomotive #4 will turn 100 years old in March of 2024.


photo ID#: 8315170 - A Niles Canyon Railway passenger train runs along Highway 84 just outside of Sunol past hillsides full of Spring wildflowers.


photo ID#: 8315167 - Southern Pacific Railroad #1423 pulls a Niles Canyon Railway passenger train out of the Sunol station and along Highway 84 where flowering trees and wildflowers can be seen during the springtime runs of the museum.


photo ID#: 8315169 - Southern Pacific Railroad #1423 pulls a Niles Canyon Railway passenger train over the 1896 Farwell Bridge. This is one of two historic bridges riders get to cross as they make their way from Sunol to Niles on the route of the original Transcontinental Railroad.


photo ID#: 8315163 - The Niles Canyon Railway’s M200 railbus rolls over the Arroya de la Laguna bridge east of Sunol as the motocar works its way east toward the museum’s current end of operating trackage at Happy Valley Bridge in Pleasanton, CA.


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