It's May 20,2018, in Sunol, Calif., and the Pacific Locomotive Association is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its Niles Canyon Railway. While the railroad is home to seven steam locomotives and more than a dozen historic diesels, the star of today's event is diminutive railcar M200, affectionately known as "The Skunk." Painted bright yellow and adorned with a cartoon version of its namesake animal, the car makes for an unusual sight as it arrives at the restored Sunol depot to the delight of waiting passengers, accompanied by the sounds of a brass band. It was this car that inaugurated service on the Niles Canyon Railway in May 1988 at a time when volunteers were slowly re-laying track through the canyon.
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