Every year my wife and I try to take a ride on the "Train of Lights." It is a decorated and lighted Christmas train sponsored by the Golden Gate Railroad Museum and the Pacific Locomotive Association. It takes place in beautiful Niles Canyon, in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The train goes from the town of Niles to the town of Sunol...and back again. At one end is an SP GP9 and at the other is a WP GP7. The GP9 is a sharp-looking in Black Widow colors. It pulled us to Sunol. The WP GP7 pulled us back to Niles. We had reservations in the Southern Pacific #2979 Lounge Car. This is a wonderful passenger car that was totally restored by the GGRM. It was built in 1914. In 1940, SP gutted it and totally rebuilt it...complete with lounge seating and a bar (my favorite part!). SP used the car in passenger service until 1962. During our trip the bar served hot apple cider spiked with Jameson (yeah!) and cookies. It was a great trip! I would guess there was about 20 cars of all types...including open-air and dome cars. It takes the GGRM about two months to light and decorate the entire train. So...they started decorating this in October! We rolled thru the Brighton Yard which is where the GGRM stores all of their rolling stock and locomotives. And...of course...Santa was on board! It was a lot of fun and a great way to begin the Christmas season!
Matt
