Sunol Train Depot - Sunol, CA
Posted by: 
saopaulo1
N 37° 35.648 W 121° 53.327
10S E 598098 N 4161364
Quick Description: Historic train depot still used for recreational train rides.
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 1/5/2009 11:26:17 AM
Waymark Code: WM5GTZ
Views: 11
Long Description:"The history of trains in Niles Canyon dates back to the building
of the original transcontinental railroad. The first Western
Pacific Railroad Company (formed in 1862) started construction in
San Jose towards Sacramento. It built twenty miles of track that
reached into Alameda Creek canyon in 1866. Its first passenger
excursion entered the canyon on October 2 of that year.
Construction was halted shortly thereafter, however, because of
disagreements between the railroad’s contractors and its
financiers.
Steam locomotives pulled trains through Niles Canyon for eighty
years before diesels took over in the 1950’s. In 1984, after twelve
decades of railroading in the canyon, the Southern Pacific ceased
operating trains on the right-of-way, pulled up the tracks, and
deeded the land to Alameda County.
The Pacific Locomotive Association entered into an agreement
with the County and began rebuilding the rail line in 1987.
Association volunteers worked for over a year on the first part of
the track reconstruction between Sunol and Brightside. On May 21,
1988, almost 122 years after the first Western Pacific excursion,
the Pacific Locomotive Association brought railroad passenger
operations back to life in Niles Canyon.
Presently, the Pacific Locomotive Association’s Niles Canyon
Railway provides historic train ride experiences to the public year
round from the 1880’s depot in Sunol and from Niles Station in
Fremont, California."
(visit link)
