Causes: Arts & Culture, History Museums

Mission: The mission of the organization is to preserve and reflect the rich legacy of rail transportation in the santa clara valley for the educational and recreational benefit of current and future generations.

Programs: California trolley and railroad corporation (the organization) is a nonprofit corporation organized to restore, preserve and interpret railroad equipment as it was originally used to serve the people of santa clara valley. The california trolley and railroad corporation was formed in december 1994 by the merger of the san jose trolley corporation and the santa clara valley railroad association (both of which had been formed as nonprofit corporations in 1982). The organization currently owns six fully restored historic trolleys. Four of the fully restored trolleys currently run on a 1. 5-mile loop of light rail track through downtown san jose and are operated and maintained by the santa clara valley transportation agency. The california trolley and railroad corporation also operates a one-mile trolley line through the san jose historical museum in kelley park at no cost to the public. The organization performs its restorations as well as exhibits a number of additional trolleys and other antique vehicles at a trolley barn located in kelley park. In addition, the organization is rebuilding a historic 1920s pacific model southern pacific steam locomotive, #2479, owned by the county of santa clara. The organization volunteers, supported by county and community grants, have accomplished approximately 80% of the restoration. While this was occurring, the union pacific railroad, in cooperation with the peninsula corridor joint powers board (caltrain) archivally removed, transported and stored on the county fairgrounds, the original san jose central pacific railroad yards from the lenzen avenue area. This material is in preparation for reconstruction by the organization as a steam railroad museum and includes the six-stall roundhouse, turntable, water tower, herder's shanty, signals and associated trackage. The following additional historic railroad rolling stock are owned by the organization and are stored in various locations in preparation for the museum's completion: a 1941 diesel locomotive, 1914 steam helper engines stored for ctrc at the portola rail yards, two passenger, cars, two cabooses, and other items of railroad memorabilia. The organization is supported primarily through grants and contributions. During the year ended 06/30/10, those activities are continuing with one more locomotive acquired in march 2008 and the happy hollow line electrification project proceeding.