The East Bay has long relied on rail services for moving freight and passengers. Moreover, the area played a little-known but important role in rail history. The completion of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad route was marked by a gold spike, which was famously driven into the railroad track on May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah. Despite the public acclaim for this accomplishment, “it was not until Sept 6, 1889 that the so-called Pacific Railroad actually reached the Pacific Ocean, in this case the Alameda shoreline of San Francisco Bay,” according to Oakland Tribune reporter Harre W. Demoro in 1969.

“While railroads today are only a part of the total transportation picture, the first transcontinental route was responsible for the East Bay's significant position today in domestic and world trade,” he noted. “The little steam trains that came to the East Bay almost a century ago triggered Oakland’s growth into a major shipping and manufacturing center. And as the weary travelers who stepped off that first train in Alameda realized, the transcontinental railroad ended in the East Bay, not San Francisco, because San Francisco Bay was in the way.”

Historic Locomotive Turns 100

Later this year will mark the 155th anniversary of the true completion of the transcontinental route. A ride on the Niles Canyon Railway is an excellent way to commemorate this local history. On September 6, 1869, “the last link of the transcontinental railroad was opened from Sacramento to Oakland,” according to officials at the volunteer-only nonprofit Pacific Locomotive Association (PLA), which maintains the Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is “the only railroad that runs on the original and best preserved alignment of the transcontinental railroad.”

“The final golden spike was actually driven in Niles Canyon, right along our railroad,” says Christopher Hauf, the volunteer Marketing Manager for PLA.

Local rail fans have even more to celebrate this year. In March, PLA held a 100th birthday party for Clover Valley Lumber Co. #4, one of its restored steam locomotives. Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in March 1924, the #4 “has served most of its life working in the state of California and has been part of the museum’s collection since 1973,” according to PLA officials.

Niles Canyon Railway is perhaps most famous for its annual holiday Train of Lights, a 90-minute ride through Niles Canyon at night. Many families have made riding the Train of Lights an annual tradition, and seats quickly sell out. But there are many other opportunities to enjoy the beauty of Niles Canyon during trips scheduled on specific weekends between February and October.

With no paid staff, the operation of the Niles Canyon Railway is only possible thanks to donations from supporters and labor from dedicated volunteers such as Hauf, who has been a part of PLA since he moved to California in 2012. In addition to marketing for the organization, he also does painting, lettering, photography, and restoration. PLA welcomes volunteers at all levels of skill and experience. Opportunities range from train crew to ticket agent to commissary duty to docent to construction to brush cutting to tree trimming and much more. On Sunday, April 28, for example, the Niles Canyon Railway will be hosting the 13th Annual Nile Canyon Railway Team Event Fundraiser. The train is being provided at no charge and the crew are volunteers. All proceeds from ticket sales for riding the train will benefit the American Cancer Society.

Valley Link Makes Progress

Railroads have historically meant progress, and the Valley Link Rail Project is no exception. Creating a new rail system is a complex feat that includes planning, funding, engineering, and construction. The Tri-Valley – San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, which is responsible for Valley Link, will complete the environmental review process for the project later this year, according to Kevin Sheridan, Executive Director. Finishing the required environmental reports is a critical step in proceeding with the two-part project.

Since Valley Link’s inception, some key changes have been made to improve the first phase of the project. The planned Western terminus of Valley Link has shifted from the Northern side of the BART station in Hacienda to the Southern side, which will reduce construction costs and complexity. The Eastern terminus has shifted from its original site to San Joaquin’s Mountain House, which is close to Tracy. Formerly unincorporated, the new city is one of the fastest growing communities in California and located near a key commuter interchange.

Construction of phase one is projected to begin next year. When completed, the 22-mile rail corridor will have “all-day service at frequent intervals in both directions using zero-emission rail vehicles,” officials say. After phase two of the project is done, the Valley Link project will encompass a 42-mile, seven-station rail system that connects the existing Hacienda BART station in Pleasanton to a future Altamont Corridor Express train station that will be built in Lathrop.

“As somebody who spent twenty years of my life as a transportation project manager focusing on freeway widening projects for both the State of California and local transportation agencies, I know that widening freeways doesn't work as a transportation solution anymore,” says Sheridan. “It just creates and induces more demand, greenhouse gas emissions, and congestion. We really need flexible transportation alternatives that are sustainable.” Based on traffic operations data found on the Caltrans website, the monthly average daily traffic is estimated at 215,000 vehicles per day traveling between highways 580 and 680 and highways 205 and 580. Hundreds of thousands of drivers travel over the Altamont Pass from their homes in the Northern San Joaquin Valley to jobs in the Tri-Valley and greater Bay Area. Many of them feel forced to drive, but Valley Link will soon give them an alternative.

“A lot of that traffic will disappear if people get on the train in San Joaquin County at Mountain House, which will mean fewer cars on the road and through Livermore and the Tri-Valley,” notes Sheridan. “I came over from a different rail agency specifically to work on this project. It is the most important project in the Northern California megaregion because it is a standalone project. By that, I mean it doesn’t need to connect to anything other than the BART station to be successful. Valley Link will have an immediate benefit to those people who are commuting by car by giving them an option to get off the freeway.”

More than 150 years ago, rail provided a valuable connection from the Tri-Valley to Sacramento and far outside of California. Today, tenants often cite access to talent as a key reason for choosing to locate at Hacienda. After phase one of Valley Link is completed, access to workers will only increase as travel from San Joaquin County to Hacienda and the larger Tri-Valley will become much easier.

For more information about the Niles Canyon Railway, please visit www.ncry.org.

For more information about Valley Link, please visit www.valleylinkrail.com.

For information about Hacienda’s special commute and transit offers, please visit www.hacienda.org/amenities/employees-residents/commute-solutions.