If you were hoping to ride the Niles Canyon Railway's Train of Lights this holiday season, you're out of luck. The railway says every ticket for 2026 is sold out. The holiday excursions are the most popular thing the volunteer-run railroad does, but its bigger story is the track itself, which follows the route of the first transcontinental railroad through a narrow East Bay canyon.

What it is

The Niles Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad running steam and diesel excursions between Sunol and the Niles district of Fremont. It is operated by the Pacific Locomotive Association, which describes the railway as a living history museum about the role of railroads in the development of California and the nation. The line, its right-of-way and its structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District.

Building the line

The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 authorized the transcontinental railroad. Here in the West, the first Western Pacific Railroad (not the later company of the same name) agreed to build the link from Sacramento to San Jose by way of Stockton and Livermore. By 1866 it had built 20 miles of track from San Jose, reaching halfway into what was then called Alameda Cañon. It used 500 Chinese laborers to grade the line through the canyon's tight curves before work stopped over a dispute between its contractors and financiers.

The Central Pacific restarted construction in 1869, again with Chinese crews, who built timber truss bridges over Alameda Creek and Arroyo de la Laguna as well as masonry culverts, retaining walls and bridge piers. According to the Daily Alta California, the first Western Pacific train ran from Sacramento through the canyon on Sept. 6, 1869, four months after the golden spike at Promontory Summit, Utah. In late 1869 the Central Pacific renamed the junction station for its railroad attorney and stockholder, Addison Niles, who later became an associate justice of the California Supreme Court.

Decline and revival

Southern Pacific ended service through the canyon in 1984 and deeded the land to Alameda County. The Pacific Locomotive Association leased the right-of-way and started rebuilding the track in 1987. It ran its first passenger train from Sunol on May 21, 1988, and trains again connected Sunol and Niles starting April 9, 2006. The historic district was added to the National Register on Oct. 13, 2010.

Visiting

Trains board at two stations: Niles Station at 37029 Mission Blvd. in Fremont, and Sunol Station at 6 Kilkare Road in Sunol. The railway's site lists its regular excursions and special weekends. The association also recruits volunteers of all skill levels to help restore equipment and run trains.