Santa Cruz Portland Cement No. 2, an 0-4-0T built in 1909 by H. K . Porter, leads a “work train” through Niles Canyon west of Sunol, California on June 12th, 2014.  This train was part of a special photo excursion that ran during the week-long Steamfest III event on the Niles Canyon Railway.

Some of the photo excursions that took place during Steamfest III had two trains.  One was usually a freight train of some kind made up from the Pacific Locomotive Association’s extensive collection of vintage equipment.  The second train sometimes also had freight cars, but always had passenger cars.  The second train carried photographers from one run-by location to the next.  Both trains would be run past the photo lines before continuing up the line.

This image was taken during the production of Steamfest III 2014.

Steamfest III 2014 captures all the action of a very special event that took place between June 7th and 15th, 2014.

The Niles Canyon Railway and the Pacific Locomotive Association hosted Steamfest III.  The largest Steamfest event yet, this one featured five working steam engines in California’s beautiful Niles Canyon!   The locomotives performed spectacular double-headed,  triple-headed, and even quintuple-headed photo run-bys!  During the weekends the locomotives worked independently and in pairs hauling passengers through scenic Niles Canyon.