Welcome!

Confirmed

Motorcar Operators West is proud to support the Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. (dba Niles Canyon Railway) be offering Rides to the Public on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The first trip leaves from the Niles Station at 9am. We will make four round- trips to the Brightside Yard, with about a 30-minute lunch break around noon. In anticipation of high-volume ticket sales, we are looking for as many cars and seats-per-car as possible, but all are welcome. For all operators offering at least one seat for each trip, this will be a no-charge event. Any car not providing rides for all trips will pay the run fee.

After the last public ride, we will return to the Brightside Yard for an exclusive guided tour of the shops. This should take about 45 minutes. We will then continue toward Verona Road to the Pleasanton Sunol Road grade crossing where we will turn our cars and return to Niles to set off. This should be a beautiful Spring Day and another great day for a ride on the rails. For those offering seats, a complete lunch will be provided, also at no cost (made-to-order deli sandwich, chips, drink, and dessert).

Set-on begins at 7:00AM with our Safety Meeting to follow so we are ready for passengers by 9AM. Set-on is in the yard at the Niles Canyon Railway – Fremont/Niles Station located at 37029 Mission Blvd, Fremont, CA 94536. From Interstate 680, exit onto Mission Blvd (Hwy 238) and travel north(ish) about 4.3 miles to Sullivan Underpass. Turn left onto Sullivan Underpass then make another immediate left onto Vallejo Way, then an immediate right onto the gravel road and go through the gate into the yard. Proceed to the far end of the yard (past the station) to set-on. Please check-in with the EC (or designated assistant) at the blue A4E motorcar, before going to the set-on area. Set-on for “A” cars will be at the Brightside crossing. Contact the EC for set-on instructions at that location. For those not giving rides, the cost of the run is $70 per car and lunch can be purchased from the railroad for an additional $15 cash. The ECs are Rick Smith r_smith627@comcast.net 707-631-5778 and Mike Mitchell bigredfarmscapay@gmail.com530-379-6651. This is a NARCOA insured event. All NARCOA Rules and MOW Operating Rules apply, including spark arrestors, wearing long pants, boots, and safety vest or equal. NARCOA compliant Radios are required in all motorcars. We will run rain or shine.

Please go to the MOW website (mow-online.org/forms) and download the Excursion Participant Registration, General Release (double-sided 1-sheet), and Inspection forms. Carefully complete the forms using Niles Canyon Rides and Excursion as Excursion Name, Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc. as Railroad, Motorcar Operators West as Affiliate, Niles, CA as location, and March 29, 2025as date on all forms (all PDF format ONLY) as appropriate. Then send your completed forms, along with your check if not giving rides (payable to MOW) to Rick Smith 5124 Hallmark Court, Fairfield, CA 94534-6828. Please contact me if you have any questions. No mentoring during this event. No Hi-rails. No smoking on Railroad property.

Motorcar Operators West and Pacific Locomotive Assn., Inc. thank you for your support of this event!

2025 Western Railway Museum Spring Lights and Lunch Excursion

April 12-13, 2025

Motorcar Operators West is inviting all NARCOA operators and guests to their annual spring event, April 12-13, 2025. There will be a night run on Saturday, 12th, which includes an amazing homemade cookie assortment by Kristi Hall with a variety of hot beverages. Lunch on Sunday, 13th, will be a complete meal with side dishes, drinks, and all the necessary items included. Dessert is provided by the rest of us, the participants. We ask only that you bring your favorite dessert, just a regular size something sweet to share, and homemade makes it extra special. This is a nice way and a unique opportunity to spend some extra time with everyone on the excursion, and a special finish to a great meal.

We begin on Saturday, April 12, with a 4:00PM set-on, followed by a Safety Briefing at 5PM and a 5:15PM departure. We will travel west toward Molena, to end-of-track, where we will enjoy those amazing cookies with a hot beverage as we gaze across the delta at the city night lights in the distance, before we return and secure the cars for the night. There is an elk herd that is known to roam that area of the delta, maybe we will have an opportunity to see them.

Sunday starts with a 7AM set-on. All participants and operators from Saturday night should arrive by 7:30AM to prep and turn their car and be ready to go. The Safety Briefing will be at 8:00AM followed by an 8:15AM departure. We will run just beyond Molena toward the burned-out trestle and return. The 1st train at the Museum leaves the station at 11AM, so we must be back before that time. We will try to return by 10:30AM. This will give everyone an opportunity to ride one of the museum’s vintage trolleys before lunch. This is included at no extra cost. We will have an extended lunch break, beginning at 12PM, so everyone has a chance to visit and enjoy all those great desserts.

After lunch, around 1:45 pm, we will meet at the cars for a quick Safety Briefing before we depart east to Dozier. There should be plenty of wild flowers along the way. We will turn our cars at Dozier and return to set off.
Plan on approx. 42 RT miles. The run fee is $80 per car which includes lunch for 2. Additional guests are welcome and encouraged for an extra cost of $10/adults and $5/children 12 years old and under. Children must be at least 5 years old to ride in a motorcar.

The ECs are Rick Smith r_smith627@comcast.net 707-631-5778 and Dave Balestreri dbalestreri@softcom.net 916-531-7536. Contact either of us with questions.

Please contact Rick or Dave by April 6, 2025, to let them know how many people you are bringing so we have enough food. Don’t forget to bring your dessert.

The Western Railway Museum is located between Fairfield and Rio Vista at 5848 State Highway 12, Suisun City, CA 94585. Highway 12 is easily accessible from all the major freeways. As you turn onto the Museum property, make an immediate right turn through the gate and follow the road to the set-on location. Please check in with the EC before you set on. There are hotels about 11 miles away in Suisun City and Fairfield. There are a couple dry camping sites available on a first come basis. Please contact me (Rick) for availability. Trailers can be disconnected and left overnight along the access road.

Please make your check payable to MOW and send it to Rick Smith 5124 Hallmark Ct, Fairfield, CA 94534. Also, please include the following documents that have been carefully completed. From the MOW website ‘Forms’ tab, download the ‘Excursion Participant Registration’, ‘General Release’ (one sheet double-sided), and ‘NARCOA Rail Vehicle Inspection’ forms and carefully complete them as indicated below, and include them with your check. Please remember – Details matter!

Excursion Name – WRM Lights and Lunch
Location – Suisun City, CA
Railroad – Bay Area Electric Railroad Association
Date – April 12-13, 2025
Affiliate – Motorcar Operators West

NARCOA compliant radio is required in all cars, no exceptions. This is a NARCOA event. Long pants, boots, and hi-vise vests (or=) are required for all participants. All NARCOA rules and MOW operating rules apply, and we will run rain or shine. No mentoring without prior approval of EC. No smoking on Railroad property. Don’t forget to RSVP by April 6, 2025, and bring a dessert.

We look forward to seeing you there! Thank you for your continued support.

Please come and join us at Ely Nevada for the May 20th and 21st 2025 excursion. We will set on Tuesday May 20th starting at 10 am and hope to have all cars on by noon to run to Ruth and then return to Ely for a pottie break at the depot and then run to McGill and back to Ely. Depending on time maybe run to Ruth again. Then on Wednesday May 21st do it all over again and set off that afternoon. Safety Meeting will be after cars are all on Tuesday and then at 9am on Wednesday.

Please send an Excursion participant form along with a release printed on one sheet of paper signed by all riders and a car inspection form and a check for $100 made out to Motorcar Operators West  to Joe Schnyder 20401 north 33rd Drive Phoenix AZ 85027-3069.

MOW is excited to announce an excursion on the Apache Railroad, running from Holbrook, AZ to Snowflake, AZ (37.4 miles each way) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Due to limited parking (only 20 spots available), there is a $100.00 fee per car. Please make checks payable to MOW. Along with your payment, we will need the completed Excursion Participant Form, Liability Release, and Car Inspection. Please send everything to:

Joe Schnyder
20401 North 33rd Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85027-3069

To secure your spot and car number, please call 623-332-0238.

Additionally, since the railroad is transporting windmill blades and towers, we will need your cell phone number on the Excursion Participant Form in case we need to cancel due to a unit train arriving to unload the blades and towers. For reference, a unit train arrived three days after our excursion in October 2024.

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you on the excursion!

Eastern Idaho Railroad will host the annual excursion at Idaho falls on May 23rd thru 26th 2025. We will set on cars Friday May 23rd from noon to 4pm at the EI yard at 1041 North Emerson Idaho Falls. Cars will be parked each night in the yard so only one set on and set off. All three days we will not be near a facility to get lunch so bring your brown bag with water. Saturday we will run the East Belt branch 41 miles to Newdale and return to Idaho Falls. Sunday we will run the Yellowstone subdivision to Ashton 52 miles and return to Idaho Falls. Monday we will run the West Belt Industrial sub 18 miles then back to Idaho Falls for a noon set off. Safety Meetings will be 8am each day and all visitors, participants and guests MUST attend the safety meeting that day. Please visit MOW website and get Excursion Participant form, Release both sides printed on one sheet of paper and rail car inspection form along with a check made out to Motorcar Operators West for $320 dollars to Joe Schnyder 20401 North 33rd Drive Phoenix AZ 85027-3069. 

We will have a pottie car for our convenience on this excursion.