In Northern California, there are four tourist railroads that
have established themselves as go-to destinations for railroad
enthusiasts and tourists alike: Niles Canyon Railway, Napa Valley Wine
Train, California State Railroad Museum, and the Western Railway Museum.
All four of these tourist attractions opened in the 1980s and have had
over four decades to leave their mark on the local and state economies.
This book showcases fire breathing steam locomotives, classic diesel
locomotives, and silent but impressive electrically powered interurbans
contributing to the economy even after their revenue service lives came
to an end many years ago. From a narrow canyon that is home to a working
remnant of America's transcontinental railroad to the endless vineyards
and wineries of California's world-famous wine country, the role that
these tourist railroads play remains the same: keeping history alive.
