Announcement Email

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August 15, 2024

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2024 Festival Participants/Sponsors

Below is a list of confirmed Participants and Sponsors so far for the 2024 Central Coast Railroad Festival, October 4-6, 2024. If you or your organization is interested in participating, please use the appropriate email or the phone number on the Contact page. For all the details as to who's doing what and when, see the Schedule page.

Railroad Festival Last Call: If You Want To...

Festival Coloring Contest: Enter in September

Win round-trip Amtrak tickets (Pacific Surfliner) for five from SLO to Santa Barbara (sponsored by To Shiny Rails). Coloring pages are available at SLO Library locations during September. Turn in your colored page at any SLO Library location by the September 30th deadline to be entered in the drawing. The drawing for the winner will take place at the SLO Railroad Museum on Saturday, October 5th, 2:15pm. For ages 0 through 12 years.

Photo Contest Deadline is Sept. 15

There's just over 4 weeks to the deadline for the 2024 Photo Contest held by the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. Here are the contest guidelines. First Place award is $100.

"Model Railroads" Added to Photo Contest

A second category of photos, Model Railroads, has been added to the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum's 2024 Photo Contest held in conjunction with the Central Coast Railroad Festival. This category is specifically for photos of model railroads, 7.5" gauge or less, that depict current or historical railroading reality on the Central Coast of California (roughly San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County). The model itself does not have to be located on the Central Coast. This category will have its own 1st Place prize of $100, 2nd Place prize of $50, 3rd Place prize of a 1-year Museum membership, as well as the possibility of Honorable Mentions without an award. Here are the complete contest guidelines.

Santa Maria Valley RR Open House This Saturday

Don't forget this Saturday's Open House and BBQ at the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. This is a once-a-year opportunity to tour the Osburn Rail Yard on Saturday, August 17, 2024, beginning at 11:00am. A Santa Maria style BBQ tri-tip and chicken lunch will be served at noon. After lunch will be a full slate of presentations, live demonstrations, and tours hosted by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Go here for event details. Friends Membership is required to attend. Today is the last day to get tickets!

October 5th Added to Wine/Rail Excursion Dates

The first five Wine/Rail Excursions for 2024 sold out very quickly, so the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum has added a 6th excursion set for October 5, 2024. These excursions depart from the SLO Railroad Museum at 11am taking a van to the Municipal Winemakers, arriving around 1pm. Following the roughly 1-hour wine tasting, participants will have free time until 5:30pm or so to visit Stearn's Wharf, cruise around more of the Funk Zone, explore lower State Street, etc. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner will depart Santa Barbara Train Station just after 5:45pm and arrive in San Luis Obispo at about 8:45pm after enjoying a Sunset train ride along the Pacific Ocean. Details and Tickets. Here's a rail route guide for the train portion of the journey.

Oceano Depot/Museum Offers Free Tours

The Oceano Depot Museum offers free tours and field trips! Open for tours on Sundays from 1-3pm. Check out the Waiting Room, Ticket Office, Baggage Room, Freight Room, WW2 Memorial, Railroad Phone Booth, Box Car Conversion, Southern Pacific Rails, Wooden Railroad Caboose, the Clam Bell, Dunite Cabin, Gift Shop, and the Dr. R. W. Gerber Memorial Park. No appointment necessary. Tours are also available by appointment. Field trips are a great way for students to learn about the history of the Oceano Train Depot and its impact on the community. Tours are free; donations appreciated. Call the Depot (805-440-5350) today for field trip availability.

Swanton Pacific Continues Move to Pacific Coast

Check out the Pacific Coast Railroad's (PCRR's) Facebook page for some recent photos of the ongoing move of Swanton Pacific Railroad equipment to the Santa Margarita Ranch (where the PCRR is located).

Narrow Gauge Photos from Bitter Creek

Bitter Creek Western Railroad (BCWRR) held its annual Narrow Gauge Meet earlier this month. See some photos on Facebook.

Detailed Halter Ranch Railroad Video

Check out this YouTube video tour of the Halter Ranch Railroad (about 18 minutes). It has lots of details; almost like getting a private tour of the railroad.

Dana Adobe Heritage Day, Sept. 14

It's a big day at the Dana Adobe! Heritage Day! It's a day full of history, culture, and fun for the whole family. And there's music, food, reenactors, tours, hikes, and more. And there's a walkable path that's a section of the old Pacific Coast Railway right-of-way! Adults $15, ages 3-17 $10, and under 3 free. Visit DanaAdobe.org for details. And guess what?... Schnittker Photography will be there as well with their tintypes and telegraph.

Garden Trains Display, Jack House, Sept. 15

The Central California Coast Garden Railroad Society will have an operating garden railroad in the beautifully landscaped gardens surrounding the historic Jack House in San Luis Obispo on September 15, 2024, from 1pm to 4pm. The Jack House is located at 536 Marsh Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

San Luis Obispo's Railroad District

Check out VisitSLO.com's webpage about the art, culture, and entertainment available in the SLO Railroad District: All aboard to the Railroad District!

Bartell's Backroads: Video of "Big Boy" #4014

If you missed the Union Pacific Railroad's "Big Boy" #4014 going through California last month, you might want to check out John Bartell's video posted July 26, 2024, on ABC10.com. John shot some of the video in and from the cab! Locations include Portola, Cilio Bridge, Williams Loop, Keddie Wye, Tobin Bridges, Oroville, and finally Roseville.

Belmont Shore Model Railroad

If you find yourself in the San Pedro area, be sure to visit the Belmont Shore Model Railroad (BSMR). It's in Angels Gate Park which is an interesting place of its own. BSMR boasts the west coast's largest and oldest N-scale model railroad. There's also a railroad museum and railroad library. Open Tuesdays 6:30pm-10pm and Saturdays 12pm-4pm. And it's free.

Area Railroading Opportunities

There's a plethora of railroading going on in our area (broadly speaking, in some cases). Check out this Index of Area Railroading. Be sure to check with any of interest to you to verify their open status and schedules.

Want Your Rail-Related News/Event Promoted?
It's Free

Do you have a Central Coast railroad-related event or news item to add to our next broadcast email? It's free! And it doesn't have to be part of the Festival itself (could be any time throughout the year). Email the details to: addevent@ccrrf.com. The next issue will likely be in a month or so.

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