Sunol/Niles

“MAY GOD CONTINUE THE UNITY OF OUR COUNTRY AS THIS RAILROAD UNITES THE TWO GREAT OCEANS OF THIS WORLD.” THE GOLD SPIKE CEREMONY AT PROMONTORY UTAH IN MAY OF 1869 UNITED THE TRACKS
OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AND UNION PACIFIC RAILROADS, HOWEVER THE RAILS DID NOT SPAN THE UNITED STATES FROM OCEAN TO OCEAN UNTIL SOME MONTHS LATER. IN SEPTEMBER THE FINAL LINK BETWEEN SAN FRANCISCO AND SACRAMENTO WAS COMPLETED NEAR THE FLOUR
MILL OF JOSE VALLEJO, A SHORT DISTANCE EAST OF THIS LOCATION.

DEDICATED BY
JOAQUIN MURRIETA CHAPTER NO. 13
E CLAMPUS VITUS
AND
NILES MERCHANT ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 4, 1979

KNOW YE BY THESE PRESENT
THAT THESE PREMISES SHALL
BE DESIGNATED AS AN OFFICIAL
“CLAMPER RAILROAD”
UNDER THE CARE & PROTECTION
OF JOAQUIN MURRIETTA
CHAPTER 13
E CLAMPUS VITUS

SATISFACTORY

SUNOL

NAMED IN HONOR OF ANTONIO MARIA SUNOL, MERCHANT, NAVAL MAN
AND CATTLEBARRON, WHO ACQUIRED A SPANISH/MEXICAN LAND GRANT
IN 1840. ALONG WITH THE VAST RANCHING AND FERTILE FARMLANDS, COAL AND GOLD WERE FOUND IN THE SUNOL AREA IN THE 1870S.
SUNOL BECAME A TYPICAL WESTERN CATTLETOWN WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE RAILROAD IN 1869, AND A FAVORITE HANGOUT FOR BANDITOS.
IT WAS RUMORED THAT WHEN JOAQUIN MURRIETA STAYED HERE HIS
HORSE STOOD ON A BED OF CHARCOAL KEEPING THE HOOVES WARM FOR A QUICK GET-AWAY.

DEICATED BY JOAQUIN MURRIETA CHAPTER 13
E CLAMPUS VITUS
APRIL 7, 1984
5989

NILES CANYON RAILWAY

IN 1869, THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILWAY PASSED THIS SPOT ON
ITS WAY TO THE SHORE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY. IN 1984, SOUTHERN
PACIFIC RAILROAD ABANDONED THIS HISTORIC LINE BETWEEN NILES AND TRACY, CALIFORNIA. VOLUNTEERS OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD ASSOCIATION HAVE REBULIT THE PORTION OF THE LINE BETWEEN SUNOL AND NILES, SO THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY ENJOY A RIDE OVER THIS IMPORTANT LINK IN AMERICA’S RAILROAD HERITAGE.

DEDICATED TO COMMEMORATE THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORIGINAL TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.
SEPTEMBER 10, 1994
JOAQUIN MURRIETA CHAPTER 13
E CLAMPUS VITUS