The history of trains in Niles Canyon dates back to 1862, when the first Western Pacific Railroad Company started construction in San Jose, California and headed towards Sacramento. Today the Pacific Locomotive Association operates trains in the same location, using historic equipment.

Archival films from Catenary Video show many early trains in the Canyon, including the famous streamliner "California Zephyr" and SP Cab Forwards with freight. Footage of Clover Valley Mallet #4 on the Boca and Loyalton, SP #2472 at Mission Bay, and Cal-Western #M200 at Willits in revenue service are included in a section called "then and now".

Footage of operations today shot are filmed in HD, and include a cab ride on the Robert Dollar #3 through the canyon, the rare operation of SP #2472 in service, and concludes with a steam quadruple header!