Niles Canyon Railway is a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. Niles Canyon Railway is a an operating railroad museum dedicated to preserving the equipment and experience of railroading in California's past along the route of the original Transcontinental Railroad right here in the San Francisco Bay Area. A Railroad Museum Where the Exhibits Come to Life! The Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. operates the Niles Canyon Railway as a living history museum interpreting the importance of our heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation. The purpose of the organization is to preserve the physical aspects and atmosphere of Pacific Coast railroading during the period from 1910 to 1960. Our mission is to develop and operate a working railroad museum for the benefit of the general public. The museum is designed to increase public education, enjoyment, and appreciation of the significance of America’s western railroads by: • Operating historic railroad equipment using standard railroad practices for train crews, signaling, block operations, and equipment maintenance.