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/

On Saturday of the Open House and BBQ Weekend for the Friends of the SMVRR Railroad, everyone gathered at the railroad headquarters located at the site of the old sugar mill in Betteravia. We enjoyed a Santa Maria Style BBQ, Kevin’s famous Betteravia townsite tour, and a presentation about today’s Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Photos: http://friends-smvrr.org/150620.html

On Friday afternoon of the Open House and BBQ Weekend for the Friends of the SMVRR Railroad, six Friends ventured out into the field to chase a 32-car SMVRR train inbound from Guadalupe. All the pics are here: http://friends-smvrr.org/150619.html

I just recently passed the 12-year mark of doing the website for the Bitter Creek Western Railroad. It’s a very old design (sort of Jurassic in html history), but still seems to do the job. Very photo-heavy site (many of which I’ve taken over the years).

http://BCWRR.org

The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad had quite the blowout gala tonight at the Monarch Club (Trilogy). We raised some money for the Friends and their first responders program, and for the SLO Railroad Museum’s La Condesa (1926 Pullman car) renovation project. Photos: http://friends-smvrr.org/150423.html

The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad visited the Santa Maria Valley Historical Museum today for a private tour followed by lunch (of course) at The Swiss (just north of Main on Broadway). Photos: http://friends-smvrr.org/150221.html