Today's excursion RR, with an SP articulated cab forward in 1937:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/sp4208.jpg

This picture can be recreated today - except for some minor things.
The bridge railing in the picture is pipe, it is now wood (I'm not sure when SP changed this). The road and set-out track just visible in the right side of the picture has changed. There is a problem finding a flat faced cab forward, but we do have the Clover Valley #4 2-6-6-2T, humm....with just a few modifications...

The good thing is that the background hasn't changed - the canyon is a watershed so no development can take place.

The California State Preservation Officer (SHPO) recently found Niles Canyon and the Niles Canyon railroad eligible for listing on the National register, with the bridges, including the one in the photo as contributing elements.

The local city, Fremont, has restrictions on construction on the hills that along with limits based on the line being in a watershed area have prevented random overdevelopment along the corridor.

Actually that pipe guardrail is still there...