The Rails Connect: A Livermore-Pleasanton Railroad Journey through Art & History exhibit is currently on display at the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery through October 6, 2024. This group exhibition features artists and photographers with artwork that highlights the rich railway history, culture, and importance of rails in the region. The collaborative art exhibit was the result of a collaboration among Livermore Valley Arts, the Harrington Gallery in Pleasanton, and the Niles Canyon Railway.

Attendees can see historical photography, artwork in all media, and photography that highlights the railroad stories in the Livermore and Amador Valleys. Additionally, on display from the Niles Canyon Railway will be items that further showcase the rich rail history of this part of California. This multidimensional exhibit includes an interactive train tool table that displays historic, unique hand tools created specifically for railroad work.

Created by educator Jan Coleman-Knight and Niles Canyon Railway, this table is a family-friendly mecca for hand tool aficionados of all ages to enjoy. The Altamont Corridor Express is also represented through photography, in addition to current timetables to show the modern use of rails in juxtaposition to the past. A special takeaway for this multispace exhibit, visitors can also collect a free “passport,” an exciting way to document visits to the Rails Connect sites in Livermore and Pleasanton. A portable N-scale modular layout of the Alamo-to-Radum railway tracks is among the delights of the exhibit at the Harrington Gallery. Nearly 60 artistic works on the theme of railroads created by 29 locals are featured at the gallery. Free and open to the public, the interactive exhibit has something for all ages to appreciate and relish at both locations.

Viewers are invited to experience the special exhibit in person in Downtown Livermore at the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater Thursdays through Sundays, between 1 and 5 pm. The Harrington Gallery is at the Firehouse Arts Center in Pleasanton. Hours for the exhibit in Pleasanton are Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 am to 5 pm; Fridays, from 10 am to 6 pm; and Saturdays, from 10 am to 3 pm. An official Closing Reception will be held at the Harrington Gallery on Saturday, October 5.

Visitors who enjoy the exhibit may want to learn more about the Nile Canyon Railway itself. One way to do that is by taking a train ride through Niles Canyon behind diesel or steam power on select weekends through October. These popular rides quickly sell out, so buying tickets soon is key. The end-of-year holiday rides are even more popular. The 2024 Train of Lights tickets go on sale on Saturday, October 5, at 10 am.

Livermore Valley Arts is an independent nonprofit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Harrington Gallery at the Firehouse Arts Center features five group exhibitions per year, highlighting works by both established and emerging regional artists in a variety of styles, genres, and themes. The Niles Canyon Railway is operated by the nonprofit Pacific Locomotive Association, Inc., as a living history museum interpreting the importance of heritage railroads in the development of California and the nation.

For more information about Livermore Valley Arts, please visit www.livermorearts.org.

For more information about the Harrington Gallery at the Firehouse Arts Center, please visit www.firehousearts.org/gallery.

For more information about the Niles Canyon Railway, please visit www.ncry.org.