The Pacific Locomotive Association and the Niles Canyon Railway invite you to take part in a railfan photographers' special on Saturday, May 1, 2021 to benefit the restoration of recently acquired Southern Pacific 1744. Tickets are $175.00 per person. Additional donations are welcome. ALL proceeds of this event will go directly to the restoration of SP 1744.

The day will feature a historically accurate period freight train, pulled by Columbia River Belt Line 7, “Skookum.” Ticketholders will ride in a separate chase train pulled by SP 1195, a vintage EMD SW900. Starting in Sunol at 9:00 AM, multiple rare photo-runpasts will be staged throughout the canyon. New for this day: Several photo locations east of Sunol will be staged. Our steam engines normally face east. "Skookum" is planned to face west for the entire trip. Time permitting, there will also be opportunities to work with the conductor to stage other shots as the group desires. Halfway through the day a box lunch will be served. Return to Sunol and tie up to be around 4:30 PM.

The trip will also include a stop at the Brightside Steam Shop for a tour of the SP 1744, and an overview of the restoration effort by the project managers. They will detail the recent restoration progress and how funds will be used to return this artifact to operating service.

• Columbia River Belt Line 7, 2-4-4-2 (BLW 33463 / 1909), "Skookum"
• Southern Pacific 1744, 2‐6‐0 (BLW 19671 / 1901), SP class M-6

Niles Canyon Railway: https://www.ncry.org/ride/ride-the-7-for-the-1744/