Travel
Niles Canyon Railway Reopens: Tickets Selling Fast
Are you ready to get out of the house and do something fun? You can book your tickets now....one trip is already sold out!
FREMONT, CA — All aboard the Niles Canyon Railway! Steam engine trips from Sunol through scenic Niles Canyon to Fremont and back are planned for this weekend and next, Sept. 12-13 and Sept. 19-20.
The news is welcome for rail enthusiasts and anyone weary of being stuck at home.
There's a video below of the Skookum, the locomotive that will be used on the excursions.
Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A few years ago, reader Kiran Sampat told Patch, "It is easy, scenic and fun 30 minutes ride we took one Sunday afternoon. It is a perfect ride for kids and adults alike. The ride was mere 30 minutes one way. I would highly recommend as a weekend half a day activity. The ride will take you through the scenic route. Our family thoroughly enjoyed it."
That's Sampat's photo above.
Find out what's happening in Fremontfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Because of coronavirus restrictions, only a limited number of tickets will be sold so that everyone can maintain proper social distancing.
Here are the details —
Saturday trips are scheduled for 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday trips are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The cost varies with twilight trips costing more than daytime excursions. There is separate pricing for adults, seniors and children.
Another concession to coronavirus is that all tickets must be purchased online in advance. Here's the full COVID-19 Health and Safety policy.
The 10:30 a.m. trip this Sunday is already sold out. Buy tickets here.
Fun Fact: the gravel for the rail bed, which is the last leg of the transcontinental railroad, was quarried in Fremont. The gravel pits have been flooded and are now Quarry Lakes Regional Park.
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