To Shiny Rails

I’ve recently updated the SLO-to-SB route guide, and also created a Paso-to-SLO route guide.

The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (SLORRM) joined up with the SLO Art After Dark program to exhibit painters, photographers, and videographers of railroad-themed works. And there was a slideshow there of my photos. Fabulously successful event for the Museum! That’s my slideshow running in the upper-right portion of the photo. Here’s the SLORRM webpage.

Probably the 2nd largest day at the SLO Railroad Museum (behind the Central Coast Railroad Festival, perhaps). Lots of activities and people. Notables this year included a new exhibit opening of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, a presentation by Cindy Ransick about the new book Historic Santa Maria Valley, an Amtrak talk by Dave Weisman, and considerable progress on the Museum’s model railroad.

Story/Photos…

Kevin led the Friends of the SMVRR on a great field trip of sites along the PCRy right of way from the Santa Maria River to Los Alamos. Full story…

After some introductory remarks and a brief update on the railroad, Rob Himoto presented his new 45-minute slideshow spanning the existence of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and its impact on the development of the City of Santa Maria. This program was held at the Santa Maria Library’s Shepard Hall (421 S. McClelland Street). All the pics: http://friends-smvrr.org/160127.html

As usual, Kevin took great care of us as we headed south and east of Santa Maria to track the route of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad to the end of its line at Roadamite and then follow the Pacific Coast Railway right-of-way from Palmer back into town. And we got some “rare mileage” out of the deal! Kevin got permission (and the gate code) from the private property owner where the Roadamite oil loading racks were located. We stood at the very spot that was the end of the line.

All the pics are here.

The right-of-way went just underneath the line indicated.

Lunch at the Garey Store

Just ahead of the group is the end of the line for the SMVRR.