10/10 -- Worth Every Penny (Parlor/Dome Car Experience) If you're considering the Niles Canyon Train of Lights, do yourself a favor and splurge on the Parlor Car or Dome car. It completely transforms the experience. From the moment you board, you're treated like a VIP: dedicated seating in a fully enclosed caboose, attentive service throughout the ride, and complimentary warm drinks and sweets that are perfect for a cold, wet winter night. Being waited on while rolling through a glowing canyon? Yes, please. One of the biggest perks is having your own reserved space, while still being free to explore the rest of the train--knowing your seat is secure and shared only with fellow Parlor Car Riders. It strikes the perfect balance between comfort and adventure. I've done both the 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm departures, and while both are enjoyable, 4:30 pm is the clear winner for me. You get to take in the scenery before the sun fully sets, which adds a magical transition from daylight to twinkling lights. The 7:30 pm ride feels more social and cozy--great for lingering conversations with family and friends--but the earlier ride lets you truly appreciate your surroundings. As for the cost, it's important to note that this railway is 100% donation-funded and entirely volunteer-operated. Knowing that every dollar goes directly toward preserving the historic railway, maintaining the trains, and supporting the volunteers who make this experience possible makes the price feel even more justified. You're not just paying for a ride--you're supporting a piece of living history. Bottom line: Cozy Thoughtfully curated For a great cause Perfect for winter evenings If you're on the fence about the Parlor Car or Dome Car upgrade--it's absolutely worth it. read more

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All aboard! If you are looking for a low key outing that's suitable for all ages then consider booking a ride on Niles Canyon Railway. Enjoy a slow ride Sunol to downtown Niles and back, approx 1.5 hours. A docent will share tid bits of history during the ride. There are snacks for purchase and you can bring your own. I prepared a simple charcuterie for me and mom, gotta have something to nosh on as we enjoy the view. It's June and the hills are brown already but oh well it's still pretty. I was a little worried about whether my mom would struggle boarding the train as I didn't book ADA as she is not in wheelchair. The steps are slightly deeper than ours at home but she made it up without difficulty, there is a railing for support. Conductor did offer us to go to the car with the lift if we wanted. My next anxiety was holding up the boarding as mom navigated the stairs slowly and there quite a few people behind us. Everyone was patient thankfully and no one scoffed. Would love to do their holidays lights ride sometime but I haven't been successful in last few years to get tickets, they go fast. read more

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What a great train ride! Lots of different cars to explore and ride during the approx. 90 minute ride. The Conductor and Brakeman were both eager to talk about the NCR, and were very knowledgeable about the rolling stock. As my bro-in-law was a volunteer at the So Cal Railroad Museum, he chatted up the Conductor, and we ended up getting an unadvertised tour of the yard, seeing all the engines, cars, and work units that were being renovated. Mason, our energetic and enthusiastic guide, showed us almost every piece of rail history in the yard, and knew the history of them all. Everyone there is a volunteer; Mason is an artitect and volunteers nights and weekends. Be sure to ask about a yard tour. It's not always available. And be sure to visit the quaint town of Niles! It's worth an hour or three! read more

A little late to the review but here goes. Was finally able to book tickets for the Christmas train this year (2023). The instructions in the email were precise and helpful. There are a couple options for the coaches for the general tickets. We chose to sit in the covered coach. Best thing is, once the train is in motion, you can walk around the train and go to the snack/gift shop coach. We then just stood in one of the open sections sipping coffee/hot chocolate. Got a good view of the train when it made turns. The train is beautiful lit inside and out. Kids had a lot of fun. Would definitely recommend trying this train ride. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

Great tourist train! Took the kids and grandkids on a Saturday morning ride. The weather was perfect. We sat out side. The benches held all 11 of us. The rails were a perfect height. The 2 year olds could look through to see the horses and cows as we passed. There are a few bridges to cross and the creek below had water. The conductors and other volunteers were friendly. There are snacks available. All in all a great family outing. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

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Staff are helpful, kind and fun! Train is all decorated with Christmas lights inside & outside of train. You can bring on whatever food & drinks you want. I thought we would see lights outside of the train, but you do not. Lots of adorable kids, some cold, tired & cranky. But most were really enjoying it. I recommend sitting in the open cars, the enclosed ones we dusty & noisy. I would give it 4 stars, but I expected more. So that could be me. If I had little ones, I would make it a tradition if they enjoyed themselves! I say you should do it to see if it's your thing! Happy Holidays! read more

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Apparently they only offer ride east just one time and I missed out cause of food poisoning and they never seem to offer it back again despite the owner promising it will be offered again. I'm very disappointed. Many customers want the east ride but they are refusing to offer it and only sunol to Niles train ride. Majority of people want to ride into Pleasanton (Bernal) or happy valley bridge over Niles. Please respect your customers. Not sure if it's because it costs them more to run going east or something. read more

I have heard so much about the train of lights so I had to check it out! Tickets sell out fast and honestly, I didn't realize it's just the train that's decorated. There's not much to see on the ride. It happened to be a wet and rainy day we rode the train for the 730pm departure. We started lining up at 630pm. It gets really crowded and cold waiting in the rain. As the train drives by, you can see all the lights and decorations on the train. The interior is also decorated. It is definitely very festive. On the train, they have hot chocolate, hot cider and snacks. The snacks reminds me of stuff from Costco. The hot cider tastes like apple pie and the hot chocolate wasn't bad. There's two restrooms near the food area so it can be crowded. There's closed and open sections of the train. Windows cannot be opened. You can walk up and down the train to check things out. At certain turns, there are better viewing to see the entire view of the train, this is best viewed from the open carts. Santa Claus also visits so it's definitely very festive. My kids enjoyed it even though I was expecting more but I imagine little kids might find this fun. I wasn't thoroughly impressed. I do recommend bringing snacks and food instead of buying the snacks on the train. Parking can be difficult, the parking lot is small but there is overflow parking in some dirt lot. So we were luckily able to find parking, it can feel tight but I imagine there should be enough parking nearby. read more

Had a great time with my mom (95 in wheel chair), my wife and adult son. Easy Accra for wheelchair. All people working there are great, friendly, helpful, and really act like they love what they do. Donna reach out to us prior to our trip to ensure we had any and all questions answered so we had no surprises. Only CON: my son and I bought hotdogs there at 10:30AM. Unfortunately they were cold, but they were huge dogs and fit the bun perfectly. Perhaps they did not realize someone would buy them at 10:30 or they have no way of heating them. We ate them and enjoyed it anyways with relish, mustard, and ketchup. Great experience and a lively ride with narration through canyon. Would highly recommend as a family outing. read more

We came here over the weekend to take our little ones out on an excursion. At first glance, it looked like there were not that many parking spaces, but the lot extends back a ways, so it shouldn't be too difficult to find a spot. While you're waiting to board, you can view the antique cars that they have on display or go into their gift shop. I had preordered my tickets and the process to pick them up was super easy. Lap sitters (kids under the age of 3) are free, but they will still provide them with a special green ticket so that they don't feel excluded :) They begin to board promptly 15 minutes ahead of when the train leaves. You can choose to sit either in an open or closed car. Even in the closed car, you can roll up the windows, so we got the benefit of both shade as well as fresh air. They have a snack bar on board where the restrooms are also located. I would definitely recommend bringing your own snacks though, as the ones they have in stock are basic and not that healthy and they charge $1 for each one. The only hot food available is hot dogs and coffee. Cash only, or you can purchase snack credits with a credit card at the ticket kiosk. The ride through Niles Canyon was beautiful - everything was lush and green after the recent rain and the weather was perfect on the day that we came. I didn't really know what to expect on the ride, but I thought it would be more of a loop where we ended up where we started. However, all it is, is that you leave from the Sunol depot and ride half an hour to the Niles depot. Then it takes 15 minutes to move the front car over to the back and then you go straight back the way you came to end at the Sunol depot again. The waiting part was a little lame, as that is where my little ones became antsy and wanted to be on their way. However, overall the ride was very enjoyable and made for a good experience. read more

Came with my 2.5 year old toddler and husband on their "Summer and School Train" option. Most people come for the holiday train or even the regular trains but if you have time on a weekday and the day/time works for you this is way more worth it. TICKETS - you purchase tickets on their website when they open slots, you check the calendar and they usually have 1-2 dates each month that you can pick from and then 2 times (10 am or 12 pm). You pay $3 for every person over 3 and then you get a confirmation. If they don't have a minimum of 75 people that day they will cancel and refund you the money. Luckily (or maybe not luckily), there were several school groups that came the same day as us. PARKING - parking is easy to find, just route to the 6 Kilkare Rd Sunol, CA address if you're departing from the Sunol Station. It will be pretty obvious where the parking is and there were no issues. TRAIN RIDE - they suggest getting there 30 minutes beforehand but it didn't take us that much time to get our tickets. They usually start boarding 15 minutes beforehand so we had time to pickup our tickets from the ticket window and then walk around. They have porta potties (use the locked ones) on site and then 2 restrooms on the train itself. We got to board first before the kids got there and got a nice spot inside the indie car since it was a cold/windy day. One good thing is they let you walk around the train as it's moving so you can easily switch seats (although it might be hard to find a new spot if someone else claimed it) or just stretch your legs. Inside the closed train car it was very loud given the amount of kids there were but it was definitely festive. You can see a lot when you look outside the window, I found that the side facing the parking lot was more interesting. The outside areas actually weren't that cold and not super windy but the seats are not as comfortable. They let you look over the edge and you can even see the track as the train moves. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the Fremont station where they disconnect the front and move it to the back to go back to Sunol. That takes about 15 minutes and is fun to watch, if you can go to the "back" now "front" of the train to see the coupling it's neat to see the train connect back and you get a little jerk. Then, it's 45 minutes or so back to Sunol. You cannot get off when they stop at Fremont. We have a fairly active/antsy toddler that loves trains so I wasn't sure even for him if he would last. In the beginning he had fun looking at the outside of the train and then once it started moving he liked looking outside the window. Eventually about 20 minutes in he wanted to walk around so we walked to each of the cars and spent time outside looking at the scenery. When the front of the train switches, he also enjoyed seeing that whole process. On the way back he ate his lunch so was content for a good amount of time. He never became antsy and since you can move around easily it was perfect for him. The total time was about 1 hour and 45 minutes by the time we got back to Sunol Station. RESTROOMS - two restrooms, one has a changing table. It is very clean and pretty spacious inside. No complaints there. FOOD - the snack car was open but the actual snack bar was not. We brought out lunch with us and ate it on the way back, no one cared since you can eat on the train. Overall, for only paying $3 per adult, this was definitely worth it. You do have to put up with loud kids and going on a weekday, but if you have a train lover (or are one) then I would check it out. The volunteers are also very knowledgable and helpful if you have questions and they often tell you what's happening. read more

Train of Lights -- bought dome tickets early October online. Upon arrival, claim train passes from the ticket booth near the entrance gate. Dome ticket holders have different boarding access. Regular ticket holders' boarding access have long lines. Dome ticket holders are best to park farther from the entrance gate as the boarding area is farthest from the entrance gate. We arrived at 7 for a 7:30 boarding and had plenty of time to get the tickets and board the dome area. Upon arrival of the train, crew will advise to get your phones ready to take a video of the completely lit train. Regular tickets holders don't have access to the dome area which has climate control seating area, bar with free drinks (we only had non alcoholic drinks) and unlimited cookies. Cafe has $1 items (drinks, cookies and chips). Dome ticket holders just need to show wristband to get designated free items. Bring dollar bills. You can also bring your own food. We brought Habit burger. You don't have to buy the dome tickets. The train ride itself is fun-- though it can get cold in regular seating areas. So layer up. Best to bring blankets for regular seating area. There are also quick history talks and merchandise store to buy shirts/mugs/key chains etc. read more

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We went on the Train of Lights. 3 adults in the parlor car. It's super well arranged- and the only way I would ever do this is again is riding in a reserved seat. The other line looked like madness. The seats were comfortable and Santa comes through the cars. Also, there are drinks and cookies included- and the drinks are good. The volunteers who work on the train could not have been nicer. We were on the second trip- I think it was 7pm. Very dark out and couldn't see much. I'm not sure I'd do this again, but I'm glad to have done it once. If you have a kid that likes Santa this would be a fantastic opportunity to take pictures. Not sure it's as good an idea for adults by themselves. read more

Super fun! What a special ride in the fall. We rode a train pulled by a 2-6-6-2 steam locomotive. Great views and train sounds. Weather was perfect with mini showers to make the day special. Brakeman, they were all courteous and nice. read more

We bought tickets for the Christmas train , it was the best time . Everything was beautiful, will definitely be doing it again!

we went this Sunday and a great time on the train. it was a very scenic ride thru the canyon. Good for all ages and wheelchair friendly. It's round trip and you can't get off at the turn around point. Good tour narration along the way. Lot of railway cars from the collection visible. The train was sold out. highly recommended. email instructions were very detailed and helpful read more

Train of lights has become our yearly family holiday tradition! When you have 2 train loving young children, this is highly recommended. The lights are all throughout each train car inside and out which makes it a pretty magical experience. This railway is run entirely by volunteers who love trains which makes the admission price worth it as you are supporting the upkeep and preservation of a railway system that operates throughout the year. The ride is an hour long marked by a halfway changing point. We love their gift shop which has very reasonable prices on train merchandise. We always go for their cider, hot chocolate and cookies through for some reason, they cannot accept cards (though their gift shop does). The conductors make children feel magical when boarding and throughout the experience. A must try! read more

This review is only for the holiday train of lights. My family took the 730pm train, and while the train itself was decked out in lights, there really was not anything to see along the way. The cider and hot chocolate was only a dollar, which was great and added to the experience. The reason I docked it two stars was because the train was packed with people, so it didn't seem that safe from a Covid perspective. Also, they didn't really enforce their mask policy because we saw several people get on the train with no mask on. That said, perhaps the earlier train (one is offered at 430 pm) in a post-Covid environment would be more fun. We also expected carols/singing or something, but the car we were in had no music. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Lines of people packed together to board the train - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

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It was pricy to rent the caboose, but it allowed us up to 20 people and we brought drinks and snacks. Given it was raining it made our trip comfortable and dry! We had a caboose host with us who was fun and chatty. If you have a big group consider renting the caboose! Get there early because parking is tight. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Our caboose! - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

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This used to be part of our Christmas and Halloween tradition when we lived closer to this area. A lot of great memories riding the trains here. The staff is very friendly and helpful. It is also a great area to visit and there are a lot of antique stores, small museums, ice cream joints, cafes, and restaurants. There is a lot of history to learn about the railroad and the area, check out the Charlie Chaplin connection. read more

I have taken the ride several times it's an hour and a half round trip through the canyon. The scenery is beautiful especially in the spring. The volunteers that run it are friendly and knowledgeable. My grandsons love it and kids are free. Call ahead for tickets they sell out sometimes especially for the Christmas Trains. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

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Niles Canyon Railway is such an amazing experience. It puts you back in the day when steam trains were a common form of transportation. Volunteers are super friendly and the entire experience is fantastic from end-to-end. My only complaint is that they don't have more rides available. During the holiday season, I have been edged out of tickets twice. read more

Train of lights Pros: -Steady emailed details pre train ride by Railway -Organized parking directed by staff. -Beautiful lights on train - $2 drinks hot coco, cider, $1 water bring cash - You can bring own drinks/food but that can be a con. - Friendly/helpful staff/volunteers - lovely Stanta and photo ops Cons: - Parents get loaded on alcohol they bring on the train. Alcohol is not sold there. The alcohol could be fun but of course some people take it to an obnoxious level. Parents are just drinking ignoring their children running all up and down the train. Loud drunk adults and hyper children is..... 1.5 hr headache. - 2 bathrooms ( one with changing table) toilet was leaking leaving the floor covered in toilet water. - buying tickets. Apparently you can only really get them the day of release. Waited 45 mins online for only 2 options . Idk if there's a easier way. Train was packed. Bring warm clothes going out to the free air cars seemed to be the only way to escape the noise. It would be nice to see some other activity on the train like a mini dance or singer. read more

I love fam bam time! I didn't even know that I had this event on my calendar until my seestar reminded me or more like asked me on whether I'm joining! I'm glad I was available to go! To my surprise, it was very festive to be on this train! Santa came around to take pictures, there was Christmas music in the background, fresh green air to breathe in, and it created precious family memory in my book of Christmas joys! They served up hot chocolate and apple cider while enjoying the ride! Cookies too, may I add! Colorful lights all around the train and very holiday-like vibes! I felt like I was on the Polar Express train ride! Mhm, I am counting my blessings! Cheers! read more

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This year (2022) we took two separate rides on the Train of Lights and this is written primarily from the perspective of parents of a 16-month-old toddler. The first experience (4:30pm from Fremont) was with standard tickets where my husband, 16-month-old son, and I started off in the open-air car. My son was fussy and got cold, so we walked through the open cars to try and find a seat in the warmer enclosed cars. This ended up being quite the adventure, as every time we found an open and empty seat, someone else came back to claim 'their' spot, which was frustrating - it should be a policy of 'move it and possibly lose it', but I am not one to argue. The constant back-and-forth walking between cars was also a bit overstimulating for my toddler. There were also large groups of adults drinking that got a bit loud and rowdy, and with no holiday music, that could be a plus or a minus for you. I don't begrude anyone any fun, but.. full transparency! All that said, the cars were decorated beautifully. There are little alcoves with animatronic figures or holiday villages - part of the fun is discovering all of the little surprises! The volunteers, mostly seniors, were kind, gracious, and knowledgeable. One of them mentioned that all the different wreaths on the train were made by one individual which I found to be impressive. The Santa volunteers were friendly and engaging, though they have limited time with you as they need to accommodate the entire train. I'd recommend bringing something eye-catching and attention-getting to help you get the perfect photo with little ones within the first 5-10 seconds. The second experience (7:30pm from Niles), we reserved the first class parlor, which was restored from (if I'm remembering correctly) 1928! Our on-board historian mentioned that it was originally covered with some ugly gray paint which they had to remove layer by layer - truly an act of love! He also brought to our attention the California poppies on the overhead panels. He mentioned these were recreated from a single panel. Our second experience with our toddler was much more enjoyable. We kept him on our lap the entire time, but the lack of people constantly walking by was less overstimulating, and the car was warm. We were offered a choice of chocolate chip or oatmeal cookie, and hot cider (with or without brandy) or hot chocolate. I chose the hot cider with brandy, and found it enjoyable and with just the right amount of 'cheer'. We were also blessed with an absolutely lovely group of fellow passengers, many who also had small children under the age of 3 with them. The children were all well-behaved, and the parents were friendly and engaged with all of the children, including ours. Takeaways: * For adults looking for more of a 'party' atmosphere, I'd recommend the open train cars. Just dress warm and bring your own drinks and snacks. I saw people with bottles of wines and charcuterie boards, and all I could think was "YES". * If you're in the interior cars and want to roam around and 'keep' your seats, I'd recommend some kind of placeholder or assigned party as there are no seat reservations. * I'd definitely recommend festive (warm) attire. One of the more adorable things I saw was children in their holiday pajamas, and parents with the holiday headbands and 'ugly' (cute!) holiday sweaters. * For parents of smaller children who you're worried may become over-stimulated by the constant walking by and lack of room to move, or for those with more delicate seniors or who would benefit from a calmer environment, I'd recommend the premium (parlor or dome) cars. * For parents with small children who aren't good at looking at the camera, I'd bring a 'distraction' item that squeaks or lights up to get their attention when they're with Santa since he does his best to help you get that special photo, but he needs to move fast to give everyone the same opportunity. * Snack bar prices were raised from $1 per item in 2021 to $2 per item in 2022. They only accept cash, so you need to have smaller bills handy, or pre-purchase snack credits at the ticket counter prior to boarding. The snack bar offers hot chocolate, hot cider, cookies, assorted chips, and fruit snacks. I think there was also trail mix. TLDR: We had a great time, and I can't wait to go next year. Hopefully, we'll try the dome seats one day! read more

I went on the Train of Lights -- Departing Fremont at 4:30pm in General Seating Things I liked: * Plenty of parking. * Train itself is very well decorated from interior and exterior. * Hot coco and snacks inside the train are at economical prices (hot chocolate is $2 and snack items are $2 or $3) * Kids loved Santa Claus. * Very clear instructions on their website (where to park, what to carry, where is the ticket booth, etc) Things I didn't like: * The train ride itself is too long. Although its 90mins, there is nothing much to see outside. * I would have preferred a 60min roundtrip for $25 (instead of 90min roundtrip for $35) * The line to board the train can only be formed once the train arrives. Till then, people are standing at random places, so it doesn't matter if you show up 90min or 60min before departure. Please read the below note for details. Things to note: * Once you park, head to the ticket counter to collect your tickets. * Once the train arrives, they will put a small stool in front of 3 cars. People can board the train from any one of the 3 cars. (Please refer the attached picture) * Once you know where these 3 stools are positioned, you can start lining in front of any one of those 3 cars. * The train arrives at 3:40PM and boarding starts at 3:50PM. I would recommend you to be there by 3:30PM so you get some time for parking and collecting tickets. * All cars at good; however, I would recommend finding seats in closed cars (given the cold weather especially after sunset). All cars are connected internally, so once the train starts you can still go to one of those open cars if you want (but trust me you wouldn't want to sit in those open cars for the entire 90min duration) * I would recommend finding seats in the closed car that is next to car with gift shop. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - recommend to find seats in this car. Its next to the car with gift shop. - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

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Adorable place for the whole family. Kids are sure to love this cute Christmas train experience. Old school train cars and very friendly volunteers. read more

A simple train excursion in many ways. I wanted to take the steam locomotive that typically runs on Sundays but only a small Southern Pacific diesel was available. I think the on-board tour announcer explained why but I couldn't hear due to the screaming kids. The guide probably had plenty of other interesting things to say but again, it was too noisy to hear. The train ride was 35 minutes from Sunol to Fremont, a 15-minute stop in Fremont where we were not allowed to get off the train, and 35 minutes back to Sunol. The path covered well-worn grounds where another track exists across the canyon for "real" trains that passed us. Also, the track follows the same path as Niles Canyon Rd/Hwy 84 so cars also passed us. I prefer train trips that go where cars can't - otherwise I could just drive it. Even taking the BART is more interesting. And like the BART, the windows on the passenger cars are modern windows with non-wood frames. Unexpected good things were the views of the creek below and passing their big rail yard. I would probably add a star if the train stopped at the rail yard to let us wander around. This was a sign that the organization likely has more to offer in their holdings but seems focused with providing rides in revamped railcars marketed for children. The Sunol depot has a tiny gift shop and a minimal exhibit. Plenty of free on-site parking. Mask wearing was not strictly enforced. read more

Came here for the stroll & bike event , and plenty of parking, very nice area. We work about 1/2 mile away and walked to the trail. read more

Only place to get your train ride fix. I love riding the train to Nile Canyons and enjoying the scenery along the way. read more

Niles Canyon Railway - Museums Near Me - Sunol, California

What a treat!! I took my tutor students on the open car ride along with a few parents thinking how introducing the youth to the wonder of trains only to find the adults enjoyed the ride as much or more. Highly recommend this experience for a amazing trip you will cherish for a long time. An epic steam train ride hearing the trains whistle going along the tracks. Must try!! Zerita read more

First year attending Train of Lights. I purchase Dome tickets in early October on the day they went on sale. The event sells out fast. We arrived around 4pm for a 4:30pm departure. Parking was easy and traffic getting in was not bad at all. I was honestly worried after reading the reviews but everything was smooth. You pick up your wristband at the ticket booth. Dome ticket holders have a separate entrance than others. The dome car includes free snacks and drinks (alcoholic drinks included). The train ride is 1.5 hours long. You can explore all the different cars and visit the merchandise car. Overall it was a fun experience for my train loving toddler and we look forward to attending next year. read more

I cannot emphasize enough, how streamlined it is to reserve online, talk to someone on the phone, and have Donna Alexander at the front desk depot to check us in. She knows how to help people in all ways. Today my companion needed the lift as she uses a walker since her stroke and cannot climb steps. Donna told us we could find a conductor to help us, but instead he saw us standing outside of the barrier while many others were boarding. The process went easily and safely, and my friend felt well taken care of. We opted to walk through and past the snack bar area, into the next car, where padded seats are available, not outdoor wooden seats. The conductor who had helped her board the train appeared a few times as he walked through all the cars checking on people. There were other volunteers also doing a variety of things. Warren who helped us board, is the most kind man, and should be recognized for his compassion! But also the 20 years of volunteering with Niles Canyon trains. He told me a story as I stopped and spoke to him during our ride. Another volunteer who had been giving the narration over the PA system also stopped and asked if we were enjoying our ride. He too, was just as nice as Warren. My friend waited until we returned to the Sunol depot before using their restroom on the train, and she was pleasantly surprised to find such a well equipped, large handicap restroom with safety rail. You could easily fit a wheelchair inside if you needed to. We rode in the car built in 1924, and there's no sign of any corrosion anywhere. Most of the windows were open since it's without a/c. The seats are supportive but well padded. We really had a terrific time, and it wasn't crowded at all. Niles Canyon Railway offers a lot for a very reasonable price, and everyone working there has a smile and a story to share! read more

I get tickets to their holiday Train of Lights every year ever since I discovered it. It gets more popular and tickets sell out more quickly every year- I think this year the tickets sold out on the first day they were released for the season! It is their fundraiser for the year I believe. All of the people you see working on the train (conductors, friendly folks selling food and drink at the snack bars) are volunteers and so friendly. The holiday train is so awesome. Each car is decorated differently with Christmas lights both inside and out. There are two cars on the train that sell snacks and drinks. Everything is a just a DOLLAR. AND it's for fundraising to keep this awesome railway open. So even though you can bring your own beverages and food onto the train- don't! Grab a hot cider and/or hot cocoa and some cookies on the train! The ride totals 1.5 hours and it's all you need! The train runs rain or shine, and you won't really know what it's gonna be before you buy your tickets. This was the fourth (or fifth?) year I've gone on the holiday train and there was even a Santa that came by during the ride. It's a great thing to do for families during the holiday season. read more

This review is for the Train of Lights (departure from Niles Fremont) - special event during November/December when the railway decks their train in lovely Christmas lights! In short, it's a great event/experience to check out at least once. Bring your family and friends. ****Tickets**** -Generally speaking, they have 2 trains that run per day (you should verify their daily schedule) - one that departs Niles Fremont at 4:30pm and another that departs Sunol at 7:30pm. Both trains will arrive at the opposite train station, stop for 5 to 10 minutes (you're not allowed off the train), and then begin the return journey. -We purchased the 4:30pm Niles Fremont ticket for a Wed for a few reasons. First, a 4:30pm ride allows you to see views both with daylight and darkness. The daylight is great in that you can see the view of the hills/scenery and the return journey in the dark allows you to admire the Christmas lights. Second, a Wed ticket ($17) was cheaper compared to other days. I think we saved about 7 or 8 bucks per ticket - for a large family, those savings can add up. -If you really want to go, definitely buy your tickets in advance - this year, they sold out by late November/ early December. You also don't want last pickings on the dates/time slots, so buy early. I believe they go on sale sometime in September through Eventbrite - you can sign up on a mailing list to be notified of details. -If tickets are sold out, Craigslist is your friend. ****Preparing for the ride**** -Bring snacks/food! We brought snacks and a few bottles of wine. This worked out wonderful; several people walking by us commented that they should have done the same thing! The train also has 1 or 2 snack bars for you to purchase items. I didn't pay attention to what they had - it didn't seem to be anything fancy, but it's great to have the option to buy snacks. -Some of the trains are outdoor cars. Depending on the night, it can be a little chilly. I'd definitely recommend bringing a jacket or a blanket to keep cozy if you decide on outdoor seating. Heck, if you want to get fancy, bring a thermos of hot cocoa or tea to enjoy. ****Getting there**** -The entrance to the parking area is just off of Mission Blvd. You'll notice some signs pointing you into the right direction. There may or may not also be a parking attendee guiding you in. -While the lot wasn't huge, there was a little bit of confusion on where to actually park. We followed directions and drove further into the lot, only to be asked to turn back around as the remaining parking was reserved for certain cars or the handicapped. -The parking lot is rather narrow and unpaved, so many cars had to do 3 point turns and back into their parking spots. Not a huge deal, but just a heads up for the severely parking challenged. -You'll likely be parked directly in front of the train, so it's easy to figure out where you need to go. Once parked, just head towards the train and you'll see a small ticketing booth. Give them your name or confirmation email and they'll give you physical tickets for boarding. -There's at least one porta-potty near the ticketing booth. No worries if you don't make it - there are regular restrooms on the train as well as a few additional porta-potties. -The train departed about 5 or 10 minutes after the scheduled time. ****The train**** -Arrive early if you want your picking of seats! We got there 30 minutes early; while a good number of people had already boarded, we still had plenty of seats to pick from. -There are such a variety of cars and seating arrangements - closed trains with single cloth seats, closed trains with tables/chairs, open trains with group of chairs, open trains with benches, etc. I recommend walking the train till you find a spot you like. Have one person stake the claim, while someone else walks the rest of the train to see if they find something better. We took a table so we could eat/drink easily - woot. -The outside seats are fun with a breath of fresh air. The inside seats definitely felt a bit more closed, especially with some having windows that weren't crystal clear so the view could be foggy. We chose the inside seat, as we wanted a table to eat/drink. It worked out great as we could walk to the neighboring car for outdoor views. -The decorations were neat - had a homely feel to it. Nothing crazy fancy and over the top, but just enough so you can see the train crew definitely put some effort into getting the trains decorated. Lights, green garland overhangs, etc. -The crowd was very mixed. Kids, adults, and many seniors. It's really a great event to take the whole family to. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, except for an old lady dressed in holiday attire who was being very rude as she was trying to get through the aisle. WTF. -Holiday music was playing in the background. Yes, Santa and Mrs. Santa were walking from car to car. read more

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Niles Canyon Railway is one of the few local places where you can actually ride some classic train cars. You can start from either the Sunol station (off I-680) or the Niles station in Fremont near State Route 238. I started from the Sunol side and did not realize how packed and popular this place is. Was confused and had trouble parking and ended up using the overflow gravel parking lot right across the street from the tracks. Then when I went to get my ticket for the train ride, I got confused as to who was in line and who was already waiting for the first train of the day to arrive. As it turns out, it probably didn't help that I arrived only about 15 minutes beforehand (the 10:30 AM departure), but just as a heads-up for other folks interested, make every effort to arrive as early as possible to get a good parking spot as well as avoiding hassles with the line, not to mention getting a good seat on the train. The trains run on most Sundays and are $13.00 round-trip, which isn't bad when you consider everything (please see their website for exact times and fares). There is either a steam or diesel train running throughout the day pulling at least 10 cars altogether. The railway runs along Highway 84 weaving through the canyon and crossing some bridges, so it was nice to see some lovely sights that I normally couldn't do when driving. Each way is about 30-40 minutes, so you could probably expect to spend about 1-1/2 to 2 hours altogether. No question that Niles Canyon Railway is very popular among families! Again, it was absolutely packed when took the round-trip journey. Turns out that I could move from one car to the next (except for the red caboose, which looked like there was some private event and group taking place). I didn't feel like sitting in any of the cars, quite honestly, so it's a good thing there are other parts of the train and open-air cars where you can simply stand and take in more of the gorgeous views. All the volunteer staff are accommodating and friendly. As one who gets stressed out being around way too many people, I can't say that I'd come back for the Holiday Lights train, much less even do another ride, but if you love trains, this is a good attraction in the East Bay. It did take almost 10 minutes to disembark at the end due to the huge crowds. read more

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I got tickets to Romance on the Rails for me and the hubby for Valentine's, since hubby is a big train lover. What an amazing experience we had!!! We are so hoping to come back again!! All members of the staff are volunteers, and they were all friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. For $80/person, we tasted 6 different wines, each paired with cheese (or chocolate to go with the port), and we even got some extra snackies in between some wine pours! Everything was super tasty! The ride itself from Sunol to Niles and back was very smooth with some nice scenery. There was a bathroom in another car that we could use, and there was an open-air car that you could hang out in if you wanted some fresh air. To be honest, I was skeptical at first, since both our tickets ended up costing a little over $170, but it was totally worth it!!! It was a fun, memorable experience, and we're looking forward to coming back! read more

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The was my first time ever attending the train of lights! First off, it's a very popular event so don't wait on getting tickets. If you want to attend you need to grab tickets on opening day which go on sale mid October. We got tickets for the 7:30pm train which departs out of the Sunol train station. If you opt for the 4:30 departure it leaves out of the Niles station. I wasn't sure what to expect. But we were pleasantly surprised. The train is decorated with lights on the outside and each car is decorated differently with lights and holiday decor as well. We got there early to get and indoor car. And we managed to snag one. But I still recommend wearing warm clothes , mittens, beanies etc. because you will definitely want to walk the train. There is a car that's a gift shop and one that offers hot cocoa and other snacks. You are also allowed to bring your own snacks and drink on the train. I saw a group of ladies with wine and cheese and thought it was a genius idea! If you bring kids Santa walks about the train and greets them which was great. Overall we had an amazing time and will be now making this a yearly tradition. read more

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Cool spot to take a train ride from Niles to Sunol. Tickets are about $14 (round trip) for adults. The train is run and operated by volunteers and the Train of Lights sell out early every year. The train ride (one-way) take approximately 40 minutes and you can wonder around Niles or Sunol and catch the next train back. At the Sunol Depot they have a gift shop where you can buy Train related shirts/memorabilia and a few restaurants. Niles you have to talk a walk down and around the bend to their downtown area. Neat East Bay experience for those of you looking to do something different. The train itself doesn't travel very fast so you get a great view of Niles Canyon and the conductor offers up some historical tidbits as well. read more

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Loved the experience but here's a few tips if you want a more pleasant ride. 1. If you are two adults I would splurge on the Dome Car in First Class (or alternatively the First Class Mahogany car at the far end). There aren't any decorations up there in the Dome Car but it's quiet and has the *most comfortable* swivel seats. Plus, you have your own little snack bar downstairs that the "hoi polloi" can't come into. Believe me, makes for a much more serene trip and worth the extra money if noise and active children bother you. If your kids are the quiet type, they will love the Dome Car. However, if you are parents with active children you might was well go with the "cheap seats" with the other families so your kids can run around, look at the decorations and see Santa. It's noisy but then that's the magical Christmas mad house that is the Train of Lights. :) 2. If it's a cold, rainy night you might want to reconsider the outside cars or dress REALLY warm. On a sunny day, that might be the car to be on but at night, um, nah, I wouldn't do it unless you are an outdoorsy person who enjoys wet and/or cold weather. 3. The hot chocolate is to die for and you must go to the middle car but SO good. Snacks are $1 so you can't go wrong. In the Dome Car you can have a cookie and hot apple cider with a bit o' brandy added if you ask nicely. :) 4. Once settled and moving, we took a stroll through all the cars to see the lights and decorations. This is like an Indiana Jones adventure. There are lots of people walking back and forth with the same idea. Kids are running in the aisles, parents are zoned out and half paying attention, it's alternatively hot and cold, and noise, noise, noise. It takes time to move because the aisles are crowded and narrow so you have to step aside for people constantly. If you're an introvert, be prepared for chaos, just sayin'. Please note that you can't go into First Class cars without a special wrist band. 5. Draw on your inner patience or just stay in the Dome Car and see the decorations as you leave the train. It takes awhile for everyone to get off so you will have time to see all the cars as you slowly walk off the train. If I had known this, I would have just done that and had a lovely, quiet time in the First Class car for the entire trip. In conclusion, a lovely experience. I highly recommend it but know what type of experience you want (party or quiet) and buy tickets accordingly. read more