Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon cuts through the hills between Fremont and Sunol, with Alameda Creek in the bottom and old railroad bridges stepping across it. Trains have run through here since the 1860s. Today the Pacific Locomotive Association, an all-volunteer nonprofit, operates the Niles Canyon Railway as what it calls a railroad museum where the exhibits come to life. Visitors ride behind steam and historic diesel locomotives in open cars and vintage coaches.

From Palo Alto it is an easy half-day trip across the Dumbarton Bridge. In November and December the railway runs its famous Train of Lights, a decorated holiday train that sells out every year. The details below come from the railway's Train of Lights page and 2026 rides page, checked on November 2, 2026.

A piece of the transcontinental line

The railroad history here starts with the first Western Pacific Railroad, formed in 1862. It built about 20 miles of track from San José toward Sacramento and reached the canyon of Alameda Creek in 1866. Its first passenger excursion entered the canyon on October 2 of that year. Disputes between contractors and financiers then stopped work.

In September 1869, four months after the golden spike at Promontory Summit, the Central Pacific finished the line through the canyon. That closed the gap between Sacramento and San Francisco Bay and completed the transcontinental link. The Central Pacific built a freight terminal at the west end of the canyon. A town grew up around it and took the name of Addison C. Niles, a judge and former railroad lawyer.

The line later became part of the Southern Pacific. Much of the original cut stone work from the 1860s, including bridge abutments, culverts and retaining walls, survived because the railroad rarely rebuilt this secondary route. Steam engines worked the canyon for about 80 years until diesels took over in the 1950s. In 1984 the Southern Pacific stopped running trains here, pulled up the rails and deeded the right of way to Alameda County.

The Pacific Locomotive Association reached an agreement with the county and began relaying track in 1987, starting between Sunol and Brightside. On May 21, 1988, almost 122 years after the first excursion, passenger trains returned to Niles Canyon. The association's stated focus is Pacific Coast railroading from 1910 to 1960. Our railroad history page explains how the same era shaped Palo Alto.

Train of Lights 2026

The Train of Lights is the railway's largest fundraiser. Coaches and open cars are covered with holiday lights inside and out, with refreshments and music on board. One departure leaves Niles at dusk, when there is still light to see the canyon on the way out and darkness for the lights on the way back. A second leaves Sunol after dark.

Planned 2026 operating dates

Trains depart Niles at 4:30 p.m. and Sunol at 7:30 p.m. No trains run on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The railway notes that departure times can differ on some days because of museum events or private charters. Its page describes the ride as about 1.5 hours round trip; elsewhere it gives the 13-mile round trip as a little over an hour. Riders stay on board at the turnaround.

2026 prices

Children under 3 ride free on a lap. Tickets are not refundable.

Train of Lights tips

• Arrive 30 minutes early. Boarding starts about half an hour before departure and trains leave on time. Pick up tickets at the station window with your confirmation or photo ID.
• Dress for cold. Trains run rain or shine and the canyon gets cold and windy at night. An inside seat is not guaranteed.
• Bring a small flashlight for the walk between your car and the train.
• No strollers or car seats. The vintage cars have narrow aisles.
• Wheelchair users can ride only in designated covered open cars. Contact the railway ahead.
• Allow extra time for Sunol. Niles Canyon Road has ongoing roadwork with alternating one-way traffic.

The regular season

Regular excursions run on the second and third weekends of each month, Saturday and Sunday, from March through October. In 2026 there were two departures a day, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., mostly from Sunol. The round trip took 1 hour and 20 minutes. The 2026 season has now ended and the railway says it expects to list 2027 rides starting in March 2027.

Children 2 and under ride free. Online tickets are preferred and are good only for the date and time booked. Season trains carried a snack bar car, two restrooms (one with a changing table) and a wheelchair lift. Only trained service animals may ride. The railway also runs special trips such as Beer on the Rails, Hot August Night on the Rails and speeder rides; watch its events page for 2027.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Check your ticket for the boarding station before you leave.

• Niles Station, 37029 Mission Boulevard in Fremont, at the corner of the Sullivan Underpass. Allow about 30 minutes from Palo Alto via the Dumbarton Bridge outside rush hour. Do not walk across the tracks from downtown Niles; they are an active Union Pacific main line. Use the Sullivan Underpass.
• Sunol Depot, 6 Kilkare Road in Sunol. Allow about 40 minutes, via Interstate 680 or up Niles Canyon Road. Large vehicles must park about a quarter mile away at Sunol Glen School, 11601 Main Street.

Both stations have parking lots with limited accessible spaces. Our East Bay travel guide covers the bridge and its westbound toll.

Tips for visiting with kids

• Pick steam for train fans. Steam days cost a little more but are the big draw for young enthusiasts.
• Explore the Sunol depot. Its baggage room holds a display on Chinese railroad workers and the gift shop opens on ride days.
• Bring snacks. Season trains have a snack bar with packaged food and you may bring your own.
• Our kids and trains guide lists more rides, including Roaring Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Food nearby

Niles has the best choices, a short walk from the station through the underpass. Devout Coffee at 37323 Niles Boulevard lists weekday hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekend hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bronco Billy's Pizza at 37651 Niles Boulevard lists 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Both were confirmed on their own websites in early November 2026. Use broncobillysniles.com for the pizza place; an older address now points elsewhere. Sunol has very little, so eat in Niles before an evening Sunol departure. See our Fremont food guide for more.

Niles also keeps its silent movie history alive. Essanay Studios made films here in the 1910s, including Charlie Chaplin's The Tramp. The Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum on Niles Boulevard holds screenings, but we could not confirm its 2026 hours on its website, so check directly before planning around it. For hiking nearby, see Sunol Regional Wilderness.

Frequently asked questions