All the passengers were having a good time aboard the train. While we were on the Mission Boulevard bridge, quite a few of the drivers honked their horns at our train to the enjoyment of those aboard.
Our passenger train then went down the southwest leg of the wye at Niles and we detrained for the next photo runby here.
The train next backed onto the bridge to be in position for the next photo runbys so it would be included.
Backup move at Niles.
Photo runby 12 at Niles with both trains.
Backup move at Niles.
Photo runby 13 at Niles. The next photo runbys would be at the east end of Niles from the other side of the hill.
The backup move.
Photo runby 14 east end of Niles.
Backup move.
Photo runby 15 east end of Niles.
Backup move to the next photo location. We reboarded our passenger train and followed the freight train.
The photo line below us at Vallejo.
Photo runby 16 at Vallejo.
Backup move.
Photo runby 17 at Vallejo.
Backup move.
Photo runby 18 at Mayborg.
A steamy scene at Mayborg.
Back up at Mayborg.
Photo runby 19 at Mayborg. The train ran to Brightside.
Late Fall colors on the way to Brightside. We all detrained at Brightside.
The Skookum was just east of where we stopped at Brightside.
The trucks and driving wheels of Southern Pacific 2-6-0 1744.
The cab of Southern Pacific 2-6-0 1744. We reboarded and headed to our last photo runby location.
The passenger train came by our photo location west of Sunol.
The freight train with the Skookum pushing came by our photo location.
Photo Runby 20 west of Sunol.
The train backed by us for one last photo runby.
The photo runby 21 west of Sunol.
The photo runby west of Sunol.
The passenger train returned and we all went back to Sunol, ending an excellent day of railroad photography with the Skookum. What an incredible day this had been. To think of and see this engine as it was, lying on its side in the woods of Washington State to being fully restored to operational status is northing short of a miracle. Elizabeth and I thank the volunteer steam crew and all those on the train for making this day very special for everyone who participated in this charter. After all the great trips I have taken on the Niles Canyon Railway and Elizabeth's three visits over the years, we decided to join this wonderful organization even though we live in Santa Ana.
On to NilesAs Elizabeth, Robin and Chris Parker had not been to Niles before, I decided to take them to Niles after the trip with a few stops along the way.
The Brightside crossing wig-wag signal.
The State Road crossing wig-wag signal. From here, I drove them to Niles.
The Niles Southern Pacific station built in 1910.
The Southern Pacific searchlight signal.
Western Pacific caboose 467 built by International Car in 1973.
The Southern Pacific Niles freight station built before 1900.
A wig-wag crossing signal at Niles.
Southern Pacific heavyweight interurban car 2120 which is owned by the Niles Merchants Association. I gave three of them a complete tour of Niles Canyon on the way back to Pleasanton where we picked up dinner at KFC and Wendy's and took it back to the hotel. Elizabeth and I started writing the story but had to stop due to not knowing a location and I finished it up at home where I found the information on the Niles Canyon wikipedia page.
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