2016 Railroad Festival at the Museum

For a complete Festival schedule (including events at other venues), click here.

Friday, October 7, 2016

 
10:00 AM
Museum opens. Regular admission rates apply. Closes at 4pm.
 
3:00 PM
Wine Rail Excursion to Pomar Junction Winery's "Train Wreck Friday" featuring Louie Ortega - see details.
 


Saturday, October 8, 2016

 
10:00 AM
1. Museum Opens, and Model Railroad Opens. $3 admission to inside displays, exterior areas and activities are free.
2. Swap Meet Starts on Museum Platform
3. Music by the South Street Roundhouse Band
4. Railroad art and photography for sale
5. Displays and information by:
  • Operation Lifesaver
  • Amtrak
  • Rod Aszman, painter
  • Balloons, Face Painting
  • Kids play area
  • Museum's Model Railroad
6. Food by Tia Juanita's
7. Coffee and treats by Lighthouse Coffee
 
11:00 AM
Santa Maria Valley Railroad, the local short line - talk by Rob Himoto, President
 
12:30 PM
Author Jim Gregory presents his new book on Arroyo Grande including the impact of the Railroads on the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
 
1:00 PM
1. Author Curtiss Johnson - "The Pacific Coast Railway". Signed copies of his PCRy book are available for purchase at the Museum.
2. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passes the Museum's back platform (northbound)
3. Winner of Amtrak's Coast Starlight Coloring Contest announced
 
1:30 PM
Tour of Emily Street Restoration Yard, led by Brad LaRose
 
2:00 PM
Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passes the Museum's back platform (southbound)
 
2:15 PM
Cheri Roe, author, Santa Margarita Historical Society presentation on the Southern Pacific in Santa Margarita during the construction of the Coast Route. Book signing at the conclusion of her presentation.
 
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM
Amtrak's Coast Starlights #11 and #14 arrive and depart
 
4:00 PM
Museum Closes
 


Sunday, October 9, 2016

 
12:00 PM
Museum Open. $3 admission to inside, outside areas are free.
 
1:00 PM
The Bishop Peak Spur of the Pacific Coast Railway, presentation by Michael Burrell and Curtiss Johnson.
 
4:00 PM
Museum Closes
 









































Mustang News, 2016 video report: SLO residents find out how they got on the map


The Orange County "N" Gineers displayed their layout Friday through Sunday of the 2016 Central Coast Railroad Festival at the downtown SLO Library. About 18 layouts were on the 2016 Model Layout Tour, see details (PDF).

Thanks to Gary See for these photos!


Curtiss Johnson, co-author of "The Pacific Coast Railway: Central California's Premier Narrow Gauge," gave a talk about the Pacific Coast Railway on Saturday at 1pm.
















Author Jim Gregory presented his new book on Arroyo Grande including the impact of the Railroads on the Confederate Army during the Civil War.
















Cheri Roe, author, Santa Margarita Historical Society presentation on the Southern Pacific in Santa Margarita during the construction of the Coast Route.