Pacific Locomotive Association

Prompted to take action by the recent demise of mainline steam railroading, the PLA was established to promote passenger excursion trains featuring unique and unusual locations and equipment.

This trip featured the Blake Brothers rail operation on the shore of San Francisco Bay at Point Molate, near the eastern end of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.

The original members were Charles Heimerdinger, Jr., Karl R. Koenig, Henry Luna, Thomas Eikrenkotter, Bart Gregg and Robert Field.

The historic M200, built in 1926, was later purchased by PLA to save it from being scrapped, and now operates regularly on the Niles Canyon Railway.

They were initially written, edited and produced by Karl R. Koenig on a Ditto machine, but as demand increased it eventually became cost-effective to use a professional printer.

The name was later changed to Pacific RailNews and, with expanded coverage and national distribution, it was later shortened to its final name, Rail News.

A donation by Connell Brothers Trucking of Stockton gave the PLA two additional steam locomotives; No.

An agreement was reached in 1973 to use trackage in the adjoining Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot for a terminal where PLA's equipment could be stored and maintained.

This operating railroad museum began in 1969, and ran for the public until December, 1985, when the U.S. Navy, concerned about security, canceled the agreement.

While others take an interest in preserving railroad history, whether through research, writing, photography or working on the Niles Canyon Railway, still others, not living near the Bay Area, take pride in the continuous improvements and expansion by making contributions to help the museum grow.

The PLA has continued to operate public excursions over most of California's railroads, including the Sierra, Santa Fe, McCloud and the Union Pacific.

Activities vary from simple tasks requiring no experience, to working as a skilled mechanical technician, locomotive engineer or other member of a train crew.