2019 Railroad Festival at the Museum
For a complete Festival schedule (including events at other venues at other dates and times), click here.
Parking is limited at the Museum.
The Museum is open on Saturday only.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
10:00 AM
1. Museum Opens, $5/adult, $3/child (4-15), members free
2. Swap Meet Starts on Museum Platform
3. Special displays and information:
5. New/Updated Exhibits since last year: Camp Roberts Plymouth Locomotive, La Cuesta, model railroad with the upper deck well on its way
6. Model Layout Open (CCMR)
7. Timesaver Switching Puzzle, try your hand at it
8. Railroad Car and Track Demonstrations, such as operating the Beet Gondola dump doors and demonstrating how coupler knuckles work, periodically throughout the day
9. Remaining tickets go on sale for the SLORRM Train Fest at Bitter Creek Western Railroad (being held tomorrow, Sunday)
10. Bob Wilson's hands-on model railroad layout
2. Swap Meet Starts on Museum Platform
3. Special displays and information:
- Operation Lifesaver
- Santa Maria Valley Railroad
- Friends of the SMVRR
- Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC)
- Central Coast Model Railroad
5. New/Updated Exhibits since last year: Camp Roberts Plymouth Locomotive, La Cuesta, model railroad with the upper deck well on its way
6. Model Layout Open (CCMR)
7. Timesaver Switching Puzzle, try your hand at it
8. Railroad Car and Track Demonstrations, such as operating the Beet Gondola dump doors and demonstrating how coupler knuckles work, periodically throughout the day
9. Remaining tickets go on sale for the SLORRM Train Fest at Bitter Creek Western Railroad (being held tomorrow, Sunday)
10. Bob Wilson's hands-on model railroad layout
10:00 AM
1. Walking Tour of the Historic Railroad District by James Papp of SLO Walkabout, about one hour. For more info about the tour, contact James at 805-470-0983. Included with Museum admission.
2. Presentation, "Right of Way and Trackside Details" by Bob Chaparro. This is a presentation on exploring the use of details as a means to make your layout a more complete, interesting, and unique model railroad environment. Details exist without the presence of a train yet are "railroady." Details add realism, completeness, and atmosphere beyond the trains and structures, convey to visitors your railroad is a miniature transportation system, reinforce prototype or freelance railroad practice, and are simple and sometimes subtle. Many photographic examples of prototype details will be presented. Bob's talk will also include a brief overview of local model railroads you can visit (Festival Model Layout Tour).
2. Presentation, "Right of Way and Trackside Details" by Bob Chaparro. This is a presentation on exploring the use of details as a means to make your layout a more complete, interesting, and unique model railroad environment. Details exist without the presence of a train yet are "railroady." Details add realism, completeness, and atmosphere beyond the trains and structures, convey to visitors your railroad is a miniature transportation system, reinforce prototype or freelance railroad practice, and are simple and sometimes subtle. Many photographic examples of prototype details will be presented. Bob's talk will also include a brief overview of local model railroads you can visit (Festival Model Layout Tour).
11:00 AM
Railroad BBQ Co., food and beverage till 3pm.
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Presentation, "Santa Maria Valley Railroad," Rob Himoto, President
2:00 PM
Coloring Contest Winner Drawn, contest details
2:30 PM
Amtrak Train Activity just off the Museum platform
2:30pm Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner northbound arrives
3:20pm Amtrak's Coast Starlight southbound arrives/departs
3:35pm Amtrak's Coast Starlight northbound arrives/departs
4:15pm Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner southbound departs
2:30pm Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner northbound arrives
3:20pm Amtrak's Coast Starlight southbound arrives/departs
3:35pm Amtrak's Coast Starlight northbound arrives/departs
4:15pm Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner southbound departs
3:00 PM
Presentation, "Railroading as a Career," Rob Himoto, president, Santa Maria Valley Railroad
4:00 PM
Museum Closes
Enjoying Bob Wilson's Hands-On Model Railroad Layout
James Papp's walking tour of the Railroad Historic District
Bob Chaparro's "Right of Way and Trackside Details"
Brad LaRose (R) and Peter Brazil (L) demonstrate equipment and track techniques
Neil Fernbaugh's Timesaver Switching Puzzle
Nathan Paul (L) and Rob Himoto (R) of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
