Niles Canyon Railway Steam Fest Author: Howard Wise Sunol, CA - The melodious sounds of steam whistles will once again echo off the walls of scenic Niles Canyon on the weekend of March 17 – 18. For the first time in over 50 years, three steam locomotives will be in the Canyon under steam at the same time. This impressive occasion celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Niles Canyon Railway, a project of the Pacific Locomotive Association, and, for the first time in 50 years, the return to steam of Robert Dollar Co. 2-6-2T No. 3. With nearly 700 members, PLA is dedicated to keeping the steam era alive for all to experience and enjoy. To accomplish this, they have created a most unusual museum that currently stretches nine miles from downtown Niles, a district of Fremont, Calif., through Niles Canyon to Sunol and beyond toward their ultimate destination and Pleasanton. The museum is an actual, full sized historic railroad, originally constructed on the route selected by President Abraham Lincoln to be America’s first Transcontinental railroad, finally linking the Pacific and Atlantic together by rail in 1869. And the museum’s displays are vintage locomotives and cars that once roamed the rails of the Bay Area, northern California and the West during the 1930 to 1950 era, when railroads were changing from steam to diesel locomotives. These authentic displays still roam the rails of this active museum. For the past eight years, PLA’s Mechanical Department, guided by steam experts Alan Siegwarth, Jeff Schwab and Johnathan Kruger, have been restoring Robert Dollar Co. No. 3, a 2-6-2T built by the American Locomotive Company (Alco) in 1927. Retired 50 years ago in 1957, this 80-year-old locomotive has the honor of being the last wood-burning rod engine built in America. It remained a wood-burner until the early 1950s, when the engine was finally converted to burn oil. No.3 has been restored to this later time period with the exception of its original wood-era ‘cabbage’ stack, which was never changed and makes this tank engine standout in any crowd. To celebrate the restoration of No. 3, two other tank engines will join the festivities on this all-steam weekend. On Saturday, Quincy Railroad No. 2, an Alco 2-6-2T of 1924, will double-head with No. 3 on both freight and passenger trains, with several photo runbys planned for those aboard this Railfan Special. These two engines will be joined by Granite Rock 0-6-0T No. 10, visiting Niles Canyon for the first time for this weekend only, courtesy of the California State Railroad Museum at Sacramento. History will be created today as never before have three tank engines operated together in Niles Canyon. The three engines will power a variety of trains throughout the day, with a triple-headed passenger special featured in the morning, and a triple-headed freight in the afternoon. Both the morning and afternoon Saturday trains depart from Niles. Sunday will be another all-steam day in the Canyon, with the three locomotives assigned to the regularly scheduled trains out of Sunol on a random basis for the general public. Tickets for Saturdays events are limited to provide better photo opportunities, and advance purchase is highly recommended. The fare is just $49 for the morning (8:30 to 12:30) or afternoon (2:00 to 6:00 pm) sessions, or $75 for the full day. An optional box lunch is available at $10 if ordered in advance. All Saturday tickets include a tour of Brightside Yard (6:30 to 7:30 pm) and an evening photo shoot (7:30 to 8:00 pm). For tickets, contact PLA at 925-944-5883. Check or credit card accepted. Sunday trains depart Sunol at 10:30, 12 noon, 1:30 and 3 pm. Roundtrip tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the depot during the weekend.
* SCHEDULE OF Weekend events - subject to slight changes * Saturday morning ~ Depart Niles at 8:30 am aboard the Scenic Special, a 1940's Harriman passenger train powered by all three tank engines. This changes to a double-headed passenger and a lone engine on freight and then into a mixed train before returning to Niles at 12:30 pm. Afternoon ~ A passenger extra and double-headed freight depart Niles at 1:30 pm with lots of action. Later the trains are combined into a heavy mixed with all three steamers triple-heading in the afternoon sun. Return to Niles is at 5:30 pm. Both morning and afternoon trains include photo runbys at selected locations. Sunday ~ Enjoy a one-hour + roundtrip journey with the whole family. Trains depart often from Niles and Sunol from 10:30 am until 3:00 pm with rotating steam tank engines (Quincy, Woody and Rocky) for power.
