To Shiny Rails

Lynn and I joined Santa Maria Valley Railroad officers and investors on a business excursion to Portland, Oregon aboard the Tioga Pass and the Pacific Sands (behind Amtrak’s Coast Starlight). The trip included at stop at George Lavacot’s place to see the SMV #205 nearing completion. They steamed it up this past January for the first time since 1950. Photos and links: http://JF2.com/150709/

Many times I’ve pointed from the train to the “Vandenberg Harbor” and told fellow travelers that rocket segments come in by boat now and then. But I’ve never actually seen it happen before. Well, here we go! I have this vague recollection of helping get funds to dredge that harbor in a previous life. See the train go by in the background (left) at the 4:15 mark (or so). See a fast-motion video of a ship arriving, unloading rocket segments, and leaving – click here (from the Lompoc Record).

Lynn and I thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous Labor Day weekend excursion aboard the private railcar Silver Lariat and exploring the Huntington Library and Gardens in Pasadena. It was a business excursion for the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, which also explains why the Huntington was the destination – as in Henry Huntington, railroad baron. It’s the sort of place where you could spend a week and still not do it justice. Below are a smattering of pics from the trip. We stayed at the the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena; this place is a story on its own. If you’re interested in seeing the entire gallery of photos, just let me know.

I tagged along with Matt to a Safe Food in SLO event in Santa Margarita today to promote food safety awareness and raise money for Jack’s Helping Hand. And lo’ and behold if the park venue wasn’t adjacent to the coast mainline! I got some shots of a passing auto rack train and a Coast Starlight with three PVs on the rear. All the photos: http://JF2.com/140517/

The 2013 Central Coast Railroad Festival is “in the bag”. It was a jammed pack weekend of activities, and I think I got to fewer venues than ever myself this year as there was so much happening. Anyway, photos are indexed here.

It all comes together as Matteo ends up on the cover of Central Coast Family magazine. Their October issue includes much information about the Central Coast Railroad Festival coming up October 10-13, 2013.