Press Release, April 18, 2014
SLO Railroad Museum to offer National Train Day Activities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Diane Marchetti, Publicity Chair
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
(805) 481-6160
media@slorrm.com
Complete information on the Museum's new-look website: http://slorrm.com/
Photos available are shown at right
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum to offer National Train Day Activities
Free Event on Saturday, May 10th, features Tours, Models, Artifacts, Rides ($3), and Programs
The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum will welcome rail fans to a special event during National Train Day on Saturday, May 10th. This free event will take place from 10am until 4pm in and around the Museum located just south of the Amtrak Station in San Luis Obispo's Historic Railroad District.
The event will feature the Museum's permanent historical and interactive displays, lectures, a swap meet, an operating model railroad and tours. Attendees can ride on railroad motor cars ($3/person) on the display track located trackside behind the Museum. Railroad information booths, food, beverages, and ice cream will also be available. SLORRM President Brad LaRose will offer railroad yard tours throughout the day. Several programs will be offered in the Museum's presentation area including an 11:00am presentation by author Marilyn Darnell and historian Joe Carotenuti who will talk about San Luis Obispo's founding fathers and their efforts to bring the Southern Pacific Railroad into town. A 1:00pm presentation by Jamie Foster from the Santa Maria Valley Railroad will focus on Rail Safety. A special swap meet featuring railroad art, artifacts and other items will also be offered on the back platform of the Museum throughout the day. Vendors interested in participating should refer to the SLORRM website for details.
The Museum is located in and around the circa 1894 Southern Pacific freight house at 1940 Santa Barbara Street in San Luis Obispo, California. It sits trackside next to the busy Union Pacific main line and one long block south of the SLO Amtrak Station. The Museum focuses on the rail history of the California Central Coast, with exhibits telling the story of the Pacific Coast Railway, the Southern Pacific Railroad and their impacts on the development of this county and the state. Along with permanent and rotating exhibits, the museum houses a model railroad layout and a gift shop. The museum quality, historically accurate model layout is now partially operational with major sections still under construction.
San Luis Obispo is truly a Train Town USA, designated as such by the Union Pacific Railroad in 2012. The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum was founded in 1991 as a regional nonprofit educational museum for public benefit. Its mission is to preserve the railroad history of California and the Central Coast by collecting, restoring and displaying artifacts, as well as operating historic railroad equipment. Museum members have been working for well over a decade with SLO City employees to refurbish its new museum home.
The Museum is now open to the public on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A modest entry fee will be charged on those days. Private tours and special event usage of the Museum are also available. Complete Museum history and upcoming event information is available on the Museum's recently revised and expanded website at www.slorrm.com. Messages can be left for Museum members at (805) 548-1894. Additional information on National Train Day and its numerous events around the country can be found at NationalTrainDay.com.
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