Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.

Recently, YV330 took part in a charter by the Pacific Railroad Society. The group traveled to the event by rail, arriving on one of the Capitols from Sacramento. Normally, the Niles station is not a stop, but this day, by special arrangement AMTRAK glided to a stop, a footstep was put down, and 60 or so folks walked 40 feet and 100 years to board the YV330 for a delightful trip up the canyon. ~ Wes Swift ~ March 2010.

This stunning night shot was taken by Basim Jaber during January 2008. It highlights some of the elegant mahogany gracing the rear deck of the car, as well as the authentic reproduction of the YV tailsign, artwork by Jack Burgess. The tailsign center is the “Valley View” of Yosemite National Park, featuring El Capitan on the left, and Bridalveil Falls on the right, with the Merced River in the foreground. This vista point is the last on the road leaving Yosemite. ~ Wes Swift

YV330 on the 2007 Train of Lights, November-December 2007. This was the first year the Niles Canyon ran two trains simultaneously, the 330 was a big hit. Shown here at the Sunol station at the current eastern end of the seven mile railroad. ~ Wes Swift

YV330 rolls up Niles Canyon during normal operations in the Summer of 2007. The observation deck of the 330 is always popular, even during the coldest of weather. ~ Wes Swift

Beauty and the Beast. My wife Claudia watches the 330 roll by, as she wonders why she ever married me! Claudia has been a solid worker on the car thoughout the restoration, some of her major accomplishments have included being 50% of the crew that installed the EPDM roof and 80% of our painting crew, where she earned the nickname “Clem”, a good handle for a painter. Shot on July 4th, 2007. ~ Wes Swift

The centennial celebration was well attended on May 15th, 2007. Anniversaries have been an important consideration. We chose the 50th anniversary of the last run to move the 330 out of Yreka, and of course this picture was 100 years from the first official run on the Yosemite Valley Railroad. The photo shows the unfinished interior. At this point all that is left to complete is interior work. ~ Wes Swift

The 330 is double headed behind Quincy #2 and Granite Rock #10 on March 17th, 2007 during the triple tank steamfest weekend hosted by the Pacific Locomotive Association. Just prior to this shot, the headend power included Robert Dollar #3, which had to be cut off due to a hot bearing. ~ Wes Swift

If Claudia is any indication, our first test run with operating brakes was a success. This first test run of our brake system in February 2007 was also the first day the Robert Dollar #3 pulled a train following its restoration. Shot taken in Niles, CA, western terminus of the Niles Canyon Railroad. ~ Wes Swift

Not everything YV is the 330. Yosemite National Park is fortunate to have their own crack restoration crew. During the Spring of 2006, our YV group travelled to help with the roof on the caboose they are restoring in El Portal. This same crew has also built the most stunning four stringer gallows turntable project just out of sight behind the photographer, as well as cosmetically restored Hetch Hetchy Shay #6, barely visible behind the caboose. Still to come, the Bagby water tower visible to the right of the Shay. ~ Wes Swift

Chris Dewitt of the Nevada State Railroad Museum lends his expertise, forming a bracket to hold the air reservoir under the 330. It is a pleasure to watch Chris work with metal. While gifted in virtually all phases of restoration, metal is his true medium. One such wonderful project he whipped together was a short queenspost missing under the car. With some scrap metal plate and some old pipe, he put together a virtual twin in a couple of hours, making it look easy in the process. ~ Wes Swift

Installing the truss plank. This long board stacked vertically against the bottom of the wall is solidly screwed into each wall stud and then bolted all the way through the side sill beneath the car to form a 20" deep girder along the full length of the car body. One of the vertical bolts is visible next to the paper bag. This was the last structural beam replaced in the car. ~ Wes Swift

Linda Schulz presents me with the last statined glass window. The 330 had seventeen stained glass windows divided as follows: six in first class, eight in second class, one each in the two bathrooms, and one over a side seat across from the women's bathroom. Linda stacked all but two of these windows, which are generally the first thing people comment on when they see the car. ~ Wes Swift

On a cold day in 2000, volunteers share the rear observation deck of the 330 for a chilly lunch. From left to right, Jacque Burgess, Jack Burgess, Wes Swift, Kaarel Hammersky. Things haven't always been cushy while bringing the old girl back. ~ Wes Swift

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