View source for Napa Valley Wine Train

{{Short description|Privately operated excursion train that runs between Napa and St. Helena, California}}
{{for|Northern Vermont Railroad (reporting mark NVR)|Northern Vermont Railroad}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox heritage railway
 | name               = Napa Valley Wine Train
 | other_name         = 
 | logo               = Napa Valley Wine Train.jpg
 | logo_width         = 300px
 | logo_alt           = 
 | image              = DL 12 30 13 411x4 (17783355076).jpg
 | image_width        = 300px
 | image_alt          =
 | caption            = Napa Valley Wine Train in 2013
 | color              = 
 | locale             = [[Napa County, California|Napa County]], [[California|California, USA]]
 | terminus           = 
 | longitude          = 
 | latitude           = 
 | map                = 
 | map_caption        = 
 | map_alt            = 
 | mapsize            = 
 | connections        = [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and<br /> [[California Northern Railroad]]
 | linename           = 
 | builtby            = 
 | originalopen       = 
 | originalgauge      =  {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}}
 | owned              = 
 | operator           =  Napa Valley Railroad
 | marks              =  NVRR
 | stations           =  4
 | length             =  {{convert|18.0|mi|km|abbr=on}} 
 | preservedgauge     = {{RailGauge|4ft8.5in|allk=on}}
 | headquarters       = [[Napa, California]]
 | website            = http://www.winetrain.com
 | routemap           = {{Napa Valley Wine Train}}
 | routemap_name      = Napa Valley Wine Train
 | routemap_state     = show
}}

The '''Napa Valley Wine Train''' is a privately operated [[heritage railway|excursion train]] that runs between [[Napa, California|Napa]] and [[St. Helena, California]].  Much of the rail line parallels [[California State Route 29|State Route 29]] after leaving the City of Napa and passes the towns of [[Yountville, California|Yountville]], [[Rutherford, California|Rutherford]] and [[Oakville, California|Oakville]].  The route passes by many of the region's [[Napa Valley AVA|vineyards and wineries]] located in [[Napa County, California|Napa County]]. The Wine Train is operated by the Napa Valley Railroad (reporting mark NVRR).

==History==
The NVRR operating company was formed in 1987 by local entrepreneurs and headed by [[Vincent DeDomenico]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Guthrie |first=Julian |title=Vincent DeDomenico dies - invented Rice-A-Roni, built wine train |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Vincent-DeDomenico-dies-invented-Rice-A-Roni-2533448.php |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=SFGATE |language=en}}</ref> The NVRR acquired the right of way of the [[Napa Valley Railroad (1864-1869)|Napa Valley Railroad]] for $2.5 million after Southern Pacific notified the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] of its intent to abandon the line in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |last=(AP) |date=1987-06-02 |title=NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN ON TRACK AMID CONTROVERSY {{!}} Journal of Commerce |url=https://joc.com/article/napa-valley-wine-train-track-amid-controversy_19870602.html |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=joc.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MOORE |first=DEREK |date=2010-01-30 |title=Napa Valley Wine Train no stranger to controversy |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/napa-valley-wine-train-no-stranger-to-controversy/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Santa Rosa Press Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref>

The new company's plans to create a [[tourist]]-oriented Wine Train were strongly opposed by local community activists and several city governments.  Some people disliked the noise and pollution of an active passenger train line in their midst, while others felt that the train would attract even more visitors to the Napa Valley, which they saw as already over-saturated with tourists.  The project's opponents persuaded the state [[Public Utilities Commission]] (PUC) to order the company to comply with the rigorous requirements of the [[California Environmental Quality Act]] (CEQA).  However, in a 4-3 decision handed down on March 19, 1990, the [[Supreme Court of California]]<ref>[http://online.ceb.com/calcases/C3/50C3d370.htm Supreme Court of California opinion] from California Continuing Education of the Bar</ref> held that the PUC had no jurisdiction to require CEQA certification because the train fell under the CEQA exemption for "the institution or increase of passenger or commuter service on rail lines already in use."<ref>{{cite web|title=''Napa Valley Wine Train, Inc. v. Public Utilities Commission'', 50 Cal. 3d 370 (1990)|url=http://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/50/370.html|website=Jusita US Law|access-date=13 July 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713101910/http://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/50/370.html|archive-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

The gap in actual usage during the prolonged transition from Southern Pacific freight use to the proposed Wine Train service was not enough to take the line out of use, although the many years of deferred maintenance necessitated the investment of approximately $20 million to rehabilitate the line before trains could be safely operated on it.  The rail line connects to the Union Pacific Railroad and [[California Northern Railroad]] and has hosted special trains from [[Amtrak]] as well as private excursion trains.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Doyle|first1=Jim|title=Chugging along / After 13 years, Napa Valley Wine Train rolls to a profit|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chugging-along-After-13-years-Napa-Valley-Wine-2715571.php|website=SFGate|date=November 22, 2002 |publisher=Hearst Communications Inc.|access-date=13 July 2017|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713101119/http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chugging-along-After-13-years-Napa-Valley-Wine-2715571.php|archive-date=13 July 2017}}</ref>

In June 2009, the St. Helena City Council voted to allow the Wine Train passengers to disembark in St. Helena on a trial basis on the first Friday of the month (May–October).
<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Duarte|first=Jesse|date=June 12, 2009|title=Wine Train to stop in St. Helena|url=http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/06/12/news/local/doc4a31dfabb5588630294638.txt|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=June 12, 2009}}</ref> Following the death of Vincent DeDomenico in October 2007,
<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kilusk|first=Bill|date=October 19, 2007|title=Wine Train founder DeDomenico dies at 92|url=http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/10/20/news/local/doc47190da02761c461371870.txt|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=June 12, 2009}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Guthrie|first=Julian|date=October 22, 2007|title=Vincent DeDomenico dies - invented Rice-A-Roni, built wine train|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/22/BAAESTS4I.DTL|journal=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|location=Napa, CA|access-date=October 22, 2007}}</ref>  DeDomenico family members chose son-in-law Gregory McManus to step into the position of CEO.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Courtney|first=Kevin|date=March 30, 2008|title=Staying on Track|url=http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/03/30/news/local/doc47ef312e0e5e7264642878.txt|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=June 10, 2008}}</ref> The DeDomenico family sold the Napa Valley Wine Train to Noble House Hotels & Resorts in partnership with Brooks Street in 2015.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Huffman|first=Jennifer|date=September 21, 2015|title=Napa Valley Wine Train sold|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/star/news/local/business/napa-valley-wine-train-sold/article_2c704cf5-5f80-58fa-9146-fa45f500bf55.html|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref> In 2017, Noble House Hotels & Resorts announced plans to build a 5-story, 148 room hotel on the railroad's property on McKinstry Street in downtown Napa.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Huffman|first=Jennifer|date=June 3, 2017|title=Napa Valley Wine Train owners plan $100 million resort development|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/business/napa-valley-wine-train-owners-plan-million-resort-development/article_6aff79e0-af39-5baa-91a5-54312a48a6a8.html|journal=[[Napa Valley Register]]|location=Napa, CA|publisher=Lee Enterprises, Inc.|access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref>

===2015 controversy===
On August 22, 2015, an 11-member book club group was removed from the train for laughing too loudly. The book club, Sisters on the Reading Edge, consisted of ten African-American women and one white woman, their ages ranging from 39 to 85.<ref name=Mercury2016>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/04/18/east-bay-book-club-members-kicked-off-napa-wine-train-settle-lawsuit/|title = East Bay book club members kicked off Napa wine train settle lawsuit|date = 18 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = 11 Black Women Kicked Off Napa Wine Train for Laughing While Black|url = http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/08/_11_black_women_kicked_off_napa_wine_train_for_laughing_while_black.html|access-date = 2015-08-25|first = Stephen A. Jr.|last = Crockett|archive-date = May 26, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160526005308/http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2015/08/_11_black_women_kicked_off_napa_wine_train_for_laughing_while_black.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> A reporter on the train expressed dismay that they were removed,<ref>{{Cite web|title = Another View: Let laughter roll down like wine {{!}} Auburn Journal|url = http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/8/24/15/another-view-let-laughter-roll-down-wine|website = www.auburnjournal.com|access-date = 2015-08-25}}</ref> and book club members described the experience as "humiliating".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Book group protests ejection from Napa wine train for being 'too loud'|url = http://mashable.com/2015/08/24/group-kicked-off-wine-train/|website = Mashable|access-date = 2015-08-25|first = Marcus Gilmer2015-08-25 03:00:56|last = UTC|date = 25 August 2015}}</ref>

A post from Napa Valley Wine Train on their [[Facebook]] page accused the group of "physical and verbal abuse towards other guests and staff."<ref>{{Cite web|title = Book club group kicked off Napa Valley Wine Train|date = 23 August 2015|url = http://abc7news.com/news/book-club-group-kicked-off-napa-valley-wine-train-/954921/|access-date = 2015-08-25}}</ref> The post was subsequently removed.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Booted book club shrugs off Napa Wine Train's apology|date = 24 August 2015|url = http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Booted-book-club-shrugs-off-Napa-wine-train-s-6462939.php|access-date = 2015-08-25}}</ref> Two days later, Napa Valley Wine Train hired crisis communications expert [[Singer Associates|Sam Singer]] to apologize for both the incident and the Facebook post which he described as "incorrect".<ref>{{Cite web|title = Removal of black women from Napa Valley Wine Train sparks outrage|date = 15 March 2010|url = http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4383779-181/removal-of-black-women-from?page=3|access-date = 2015-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Black women's book club ordered off California tourist train {{!}} Al Jazeera America|url = http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/8/25/california-wine-train-orders-off-black-womens-book-club.html|access-date = 2015-08-25}}</ref>

After the story was picked up by the local and national press, the [[Twitter]] hashtag #laughingwhileblack was used to express concern about [[racial bias]], [[white privilege]], and the actions of the wine train staff.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/lonnae-oneal-laughing-while-black-not-on-the-wine-train/2015/08/26/93dd9718-4bf2-11e5-902f-39e9219e574b_story.html| title = Laughing while black? Not on the Wine Train. - The Washington Post| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Fallout from the incident caused two book club members to lose their jobs. The book club filed a lawsuit seeking $11&nbsp;million in damages, and after private mediation, reached a settlement in April 2016 for an undisclosed sum.<ref name=Mercury2016/>

==Operations==
The original train has a capacity of 320 passengers and typically makes two runs a day. The train is normally pulled by two of the four late-1950s era [[Alco]] [[ALCO FA|FPA-4]] engines in the company's inventory.  These engines were originally built by [[Montreal Locomotive Works]] and first owned by [[Canadian National Railway]] and later by [[Via Rail]].  Two of the engines were modified by the railroad to run cleaner on a combination of [[natural gas]] and [[diesel fuel]]. One was dual fuel (NVR 70), and the other was 100% [[CNG]] (Compressed Natural Gas) (NVR 73).  Presently, #70 has been converted back to 100% diesel, while the #73 remains 100% CNG.

The company announced in February 2018 that it would be leasing 5 passenger cars, a locomotive and power car from the [[Sierra Railroad|Sierra Railroad Company]] while renovating the interior and exteriors of several cars in its fleet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-valley-wine-train-borrowing-rail-cars-while-it-spiffs/article_9a9723a3-22d3-524a-9f2b-da790d17f51c.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1|title=Napa Valley Wine Train borrowing rail cars while it spiffs up its rolling stock|last=Huffman|first=Jennifer|date=2018-02-05|work=[[Napa Valley Register]]|access-date=2018-02-05}}</ref>

===Equipment===
The Napa Valley Wine Train currently runs nine cars on its passenger train consisting of [[Lounge car|lounge]], [[Observation car|observation]] and [[dining car]]s originally built by the [[Pullman Company]] in the early 1900s for the [[Northern Pacific Railroad]].  These cars were later sold to [[Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad]] in 1960 and used for the [[Ski Train]] between [[Denver, Colorado]] and [[Winter Park, Colorado]] before the NVRR purchased them in 1987.  The cars were extensively refurbished and modified by NVRR before the railroad placed them back into service.  Modifications included adding air conditioning and 4&nbsp;inches of concrete to the car floors in order to stabilize the ride due to the train's low speed.  The interiors were remodeled using [[Swietenia|Honduran mahogany]] and plush fabrics.  The railroad added a [[Super Dome (railcar)|Super Dome]] car to its fleet in 1997.  This car was originally built in 1952 for the [[Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad]] and had logged more than a million miles for that railroad prior to being acquired by the NVRR.  After the railroad bought this car, the exterior was rebuilt by the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] [[circus train|train]] repair yard in [[Palmetto, Florida]] while the interior was restored, updated, and customized by NVRR.{{Needs citation|date=May 2024}}

A modified [[box car]] containing a 400KVA [[Diesel generator|generator]] was added to the consist in 2013 in order to maintain constant power to the train during the time that the locomotives are [[Headshunt|run around to the south end of the train]], for the return trip from St. Helena. The generator was placed inside a sound proof room with a passageway for passengers on the opposite side. This boxcar was the world's only walk-through generator car. During the modification process, the roof of this car was lowered by two feet in order to preserve the view from the [[Super Dome (railcar)|dome car]] and weight was added to the side of the car opposite from the generator in order to balance the load.<ref>{{cite web |title=No huffing and puffing at Wine Train |work=[[Napa Valley Register]] |url=http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/no-huffing-and-puffing-at-wine-train/article_efbd7026-07d4-11e3-9a29-0019bb2963f4.html |date=2013-08-18 |last=Huffman |first=Jennifer |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref>

=== Locomotives ===
[[File:Napa Valley Wine Train 70.jpg|thumb|NVRR Diesel locomotives #70 & #72]]
[[File:QuattroVino.png|thumb|The Quattro Vino, a train to four wineries introduced in 2016]]
As of 2024, the locomotive fleet consists of the following:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Number !! Builder / Model !! Date !!Builder Number !!Notes
|-
| 52
| [[GE Transportation Systems|GE]] /[[GE 65-ton switcher|65-ton switcher]]
| July 1943
| 17871
| nee US Army 7888
|-
| 57
|[[GE Transportation|GE]] [[GE 80-ton switcher|80-ton switcher]]
| August 1952
| 31357
| nee US Army 1650
|-
| 62
| [[ALCO RS-11]]
| 1959
| 83416<ref name="rrpicturearchives.net">{{cite web|title=NVRR - NAPA Valley Railroad Company Locomotive Roster - Railroad Picture Archives.NET|url=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locolist.aspx?id=NVRR}}</ref>
|Bought from [[California Western Railroad]]-1989  Originally SP 5854
|-
| 69
| [[Electro-Motive Diesel|EMD]] Rebuilt [[EMD GP9|GP9R]]
| October 1958
| 24765
|Formerly [[Portland and Western]] 1804. Entered into revenue service on November 2. 2016 Originally M&StL 710
|-
| 70
| [[Alco]] [[Montreal Locomotive Works|MLW]]/[[Alco FA|FPA-4]]
| October 1958
| 82269
| ex VIA/CN 6760
|-
| 71
| [[Alco]] [[Montreal Locomotive Works|MLW]]/[[Alco FA|FPA-4]]
| February 1959
| 83153
| ex VIA/CN 6775. Withdrawn as of 2023 with prime mover scrapped.
|-
| 72
| [[Alco]] [[Montreal Locomotive Works|MLW]]/[[Alco FA|FPA-4]]
| April 1959
| 83165
| ex VIA/CN 6787 
|-
| 73
| [[Alco]] [[Montreal Locomotive Works|MLW]]/[[Alco FA|FPA-4]]
| April 1959
| 83168
| ex VIA/CN 6790 Rebuilt to burn [[natural gas]] & has an [[EMD 645|EMD 12-645E]] prime mover.<ref>{{cite web|title=NAPA VALLEY WINE TRAIN|url=http://www.highonadventure.com/hoa10dec/sylvia/napavalleywinetrain.htm|access-date=2010-05-03}}</ref>
|-
| 1864
| [[Knoxville Locomotive Works|KLW]] NZE15B
| 2023
| N/A
| Rebuilt from NRE 3GS21B. Slated to replace current fleet.
|}
<ref>Edward Lewis [https://books.google.com/books?id=kav09ZpkS6YC&pg=PA8&sig=t_MnD6nEv9fxwNNRHqiweGgskGc#PPA212,M1American Short Line Railway Guide (page 212)]</ref>

There is also one locomotive on lease from outside owners: #5076.

As of October 2023, the Napa Valley Wine Train plans to replace its current locomotive fleet with two Tier 4 locomotives built by [[Knoxville Locomotive Works]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Napa Valley Wine Train to replace six older diesels with two Tier 4 units |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/napa-valley-wine-train-to-replace-six-older-diesels-with-two-tier-4-units/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Trains |language=en-US}}</ref> The first of these entered service in November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-18 |title=First Tier 4 locomotive enters service for Napa Valley Wine Train |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/first-tier-4-locomotive-enters-service-for-napa-valley-wine-train/ |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Trains |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Plans==
The NVRR track is currently used for limited daily scheduled passenger excursions of the Napa Valley Wine Train and occasional freight service. A July 2003 study <ref>[http://www.nctpa.net/docs/Napa%20Solano%20Freight%20Rail%20Study.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041128/http://www.nctpa.net/docs/Napa%20Solano%20Freight%20Rail%20Study.pdf|date=September 30, 2007}} ''Napa/Solano Passenger/Freight Rail Study'' funded jointly by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Napa County Transportation Planning Agency and Solano Transportation Authority</ref> examined the feasibility of acquiring right of way between [[St. Helena, California|St. Helena]] and [[Calistoga, California|Calistoga]] and adding commuter service on the route. This study included consideration for connecting with other mass transit services beyond the Napa Valley and increasing freight service.

Developers of the proposed 3,200-unit townhome Napa Pipe project have proposed a private venture shuttle service that would use a portion of the NVRR line from the southern terminus of the line north to Redwood Road and Trancas Street. The proposed shuttle would continue south on [[Union Pacific Railroad]]-owned right of way to [[American Canyon, CA|American Canyon]], with trains leaving every 20 or 30 minutes. The developers have held preliminary discussions with NVRR as well as Union Pacific.
<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Jones
  | first = Jillian
  | title = Rail system for Napa?
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = September 17, 2008
  | url =http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/09/17/news/local/doc48d0983e08350505133333.txt
  | access-date = September 21, 2008}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Noonan
  | first = James
  | title = Investors hope to bring light rail to Napa
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = September 13, 2011
  | url = http://www.napavalleyregister.com/news/local/investors-hope-to-bring-light-rail-to-napa/article_f8d93ba8-ddbb-11e0-8ccb-001cc4c002e0.html
  | access-date = September 13, 2011}}</ref>
Backers of the proposal to add commuter service released a business plan in early 2012 revealing that the service would need to carry 1 to 1.5 million passengers per year in order to achieve a profit.<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Jensen
  | first = Peter
  | title = Napa Valley rail system would need a million riders
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = January 11, 2012
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-valley-rail-system-would-need-a-million-riders/article_98b65b8e-3cbb-11e1-8c34-0019bb2963f4.html
  | access-date = January 20, 2012}}</ref>
Members of the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency have expressed some initial interest in the proposal.
<ref>{{Cite journal
  | last = Jensen
  | first = Peter
  | title = Transit agency cautious about supporting rail plan
  | journal = [[Napa Valley Register]]
  | publisher = Lee Enterprises, Inc.
  | location = Napa, CA
  | date = January 20, 2012
  | url = http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/transit-agency-cautious-about-supporting-rail-plan/article_93f4f264-432c-11e1-91ce-0019bb2963f4.html
  | access-date = January 20, 2012}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Railways}}
*[[List of California railroads]]
* [[List of heritage railroads in the United States#California|List of heritage railroads in the United States]]
*[[List of heritage railways]]
*[[List of San Francisco Bay Area trains]]

== References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category inline}}
* [http://www.winetrain.com Napa Valley Wine Train]

{{California railroads}}

[[Category:Dinner trains]]
[[Category:Heritage railroads in California]]
[[Category:Wineries in Napa Valley]]
[[Category:Napa Valley]]
[[Category:Transportation in Napa County, California]]
[[Category:California wine]]
[[Category:Companies based in Napa County, California]]
[[Category:Railway companies established in 1987]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Napa County, California]]