Established in 1982, the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to preserve rail transportation in the Santa Clara Valley.

[1] California Trolley and Railroad Corporation (CTRC) was founded in 1982, after Santa Clara County Supervisor Rod Diridon Sr. attended the American Public Transit Association conference in Seattle and saw the operation of the city's historic Waterfront Streetcar.

"Historic Trolley" service in downtown San Jose began on November 18, 1988, and operated seven days a week (but not during rush hours or evenings).

[4] In 2004, the Historic Trolley service operated only during the Christmas and holiday season, and this pattern continued through 2008, and running Saturdays-only after 2004.

On July 4, 2021, the CTRC reached an agreement to move the Lenzen Roundhouse, turntable, and Southern Pacific 2479 to the Niles Canyon Railway in nearby Alameda County.