Only 147 days to go!
UNTIL THEN, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT
JAMIE FOSTER'S WONDERFUL PHOTO PAGE
FROM
THE 2011 EVENT!
Join us for two days of fun.
Admission, $2; Unlimited Rides, Add $3
(Children under 34 inches admitted free.)
** ADVANCE-TICKET SPECIAL ! **
Get TWO days admission for the price
of one! Only thru the Online Store.
Check back here for schedule updates.
ALMOST LIKE BEING THERE! VISIT IMAGE GALLERIES FROM THE 2009-2010 EVENTS
Miniature-Train Rides
On Saturday, miniature steam locomotives will haul passengers over the 1/3-mile-long “Centennial Loop.”
(SEE LIST OF OPERATING RIDE EQUIPMENT)
Museum engines 1316 and 2655 will offer rides on the 1/6-mile “Westside Figure-8” track and the Centennial Loop throughout the weekend.
The Railroad Days Unlimited Ride Pass is good for all rides — train, handcar and speeder. Only $5 (price includes admission).
Handcar Rides
You'll need to use those arm muscles to help propel the museum handcar on this unique experience that reminds us of the early history of American railroading.
Handcars were developed during the 19th century. They were used primarily to transport railroad workers and equipment.
For safety, all handcar riders must meet the 48-inch minimum-height requirement. The ride is not suitable for persons who have problems maintaining their balance.
Inspection-Car (“Speeder”) Rides
Sunday only, Bob Mahan will be on hand to give rides on his Fairmont inspection car.
Mahan's speeder formerly served on the Ventura Railway. Powered cars like this one replaced the railroad handcar.
Speeder rides are included with the day-long unlimited-ride pass. The pass is available during the event, or may be purchased in advance through the museum's online Trackside Shop
Silent Auction
The Sunday highlight is the 29th Annual Depot Day Silent Auction.
The auction will feature more than 150 valuable items, including dinners and brunches at fine restaurants, stays at hotels from San Diego to Paso Robles, tickets to regional performing-arts productions and sporting events, admissions to Disneyland and Magic Mountain, wine tours and a wide assortment of regional wines, Amtrak travel, goods, services, collectibles, and gifts for all ages.
An auction list is updated regularly at: auction.rrdays.org
Toy & Model Trains
You'll find operating model and antique toy trains, as well as static displays, throughout the museum and grounds. All popular gauges will be represented.
The three main local modeling groups will all be participating this year: the Coast Toy Train Club, the South Coast Society of Model Engineers, and the Gold Coast Garden Railway Society.
Be sure to drop by the Museum Visitor Center to see the large-scale train display, with three operating trains (see video at right). |
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Visitors Can Take Part, Too!
Children's Story Time
Judy Savage, Children's Librarian at Goleta Public Library, and Kathy Halloran will lead train-themed story times for our young visitors each day from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
“Unclaimed Freight & Baggage Sale”
Pick up some great bargains at this unique sale of new and used model-railroad supplies, railroad-theme videos and magazines, toys, books, and many other items. All proceeds benefit the railroad museum.
Goleta Depot Open House
Take a tour of the landmark building, which is listed on the National Register Of Historic Places and the California Register of historical and cultural resources.
The historic Freight Office and Waiting Room will be open for viewing throughout the event. Sunday only will be your once-a-year chance to visit the upstairs apartment, where Goleta Depot's agents and their families lived.
Live-Steam Exhibition
Jim Marchiando's steam plant will power a menagerie of steam whistles and a table-top display of tools and equipment assembled by Jim Higman, Gene Allen, and John Green. Ask if you can toot one of the whistles.
Other Activities & Attractions:
Locomotive Simulator |
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Computer-based simulator system, featuring PI Engineering's RailDriver cab controller
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Explore S.P. Bay-Window Caboose No. 4023
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Railroad Films in the museum's Gandy Dancer Theater |
Displays, Booths, Activities By These Participating Organizations:
Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak)
Goleta Public Library
Union Pacific Railroad
Woman's Service Club of Goleta
Coast Toy Train Club
South Coast Society of Model Engineers
Gold Coast Garden Railway Society
Goleta Valley Art Association
Goleta Railroad Days began as "Steaming Summer" back in 1988. This 2005 video captures much of the flavor of that earlier event. |
Visit the Depot Day and Railroad Days/Steaming Summer images page on the museum's website.
Visit the Depot Day,Railroad Days, and Steaming Summer image galleries on SmugMug.
Special Thanks To Our Promotional Sponsors
Railroad Days weekend would not be possible without the support
and good wishes of these advertising and promotional sponsors:
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Santa Barbara News-Press
Radio AM1290
Radio KDB93.7FM
ParentClick.com
Venoco, Inc.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES (as of 9/12/2011)
Saturday, Sept. 17 |
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10:30-11:00 |
Steam-Up! | Come early and watch the engine crews prepare the steam locomotives. |
11 a.m. |
Flag-Raising | Junior Girl Scout Troop 50763 and Daisy Girl Scout Troop 50014 |
| Diesel-Train Rides begin on Westside Figure-8 (continuing until 4 p.m.) | ||
| Steam & Diesel-Train Rides start on Centennial Loop (continuing until 4 p.m.) | ||
| Handcar Rides on standard-gauge track in front of Goleta Depot (until 4 p.m.) | ||
1:00-2:30 |
Children's Story Time |
Courtesy of Goleta Public Library, Judy Savage, Children's Librarian. Location to be determined.. |
Depot Day — Sunday, Sept. 18 |
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11 a.m. |
Flag-Raising | Junior Girl Scout Troop 50277 and Cadette Girl Scout Troop 50510 |
| Train Rides | Diesel-Train Rides on Centennial Loop (1/3-mile) & Westside Figure-8 (1/6 mile). Rides continue until 4 p.m. | |
| Speeder Rides | On standard-gauge track in front of depot. Speeder and handcar rides alternate approx. every 30 minutes. (until 4 p.m.) | |
11:30 a.m. |
Handcar Rides |
On standard-gauge track in front of depot. Speeder and handcar rides alternate approx. every 30 minutes. (until 4 p.m.) |
| VARIOUS | Silent Auction | Auction Tables will close as follows: Table A,-12:30; Table B-1:15; Table C-2:00; Table D-2:45; Table E-3:30. SEE LIST OF ITEMS |
| 12:30 | Open House | Visit the historic Goleta Depot's upstairs apartment, where the agent and family lived. (until 4 p.m.) |
1:00-2:30 |
Children's Story Time |
Hosted by Kathy Halloran. Location to be determined. |
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HELP THE MUSEUM to get the word out about Railroad Days. Download, print, and post copies Thank you! |
LIST OF OPERATING EQUIPMENT
(scheduled as of 9/12/2011)
RIDE EQUIPMENT:
No. 614, “American” |
This coal-burning steam locomotive, built by Allen Models, Inc., is a 535-lb., eight-foot-long likeness of a historic “American”-class engine manufactured in 1888 by the Cook Locomotive and Machine Co. of Patterson, New Jersey. The fully-operational model is one-eighth the size of the original. This style of locomotive has four drive wheels |
No. 77, Switcher |
Owner Ed Winnewisser of Atascadero will operate this steam-powered “0-6-0” switch-engine, which is modeled after locomotives developed in the late 1800s and used for light hauling. The Winnewisser engine weighs approx. 450 lbs. |
| Inspection Car | Built by Fairmont, this inspection car or “speeder” was originally used on the Ventura Railway. The car is now owned by Robert Mahan of Oxnard. Mr. Mahan will be operating the car during the Railroad Days event. |
No. 1316, Diesel |
Manufactured by Morris Industries, Charlotte, Michigan, No. 1316 is a scaled-reproduction of a 248,300-lb. Southern Pacific diesel locomotive. In 1941, the “S.P.” purchased ten of these 1,000-horsepowerengines from General Motors, all built at GM's Electro-Motive Division plant in La Grange, Illinois. Assigned numbers 1310 through 1319, these were among the first diesel engines used by Southern Pacific. The original No. 1316 was assigned to the Taylor Yards in Los Angeles. |
No. 2655, Diesel |
This Morris Industries 1/8-size operating model is patterned after a modern-day Southern Pacific diesel switch-engine built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. |
Handcar |
Built in 1989 by South Coast Railroad Museum volunteers, this car was modeled after the demonstration handcars used at the California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento. A handcar is powered by its passengers, who pump a lever that turns a set of gears connected to the car's wheels. The railroad handcar was developed during the second half of the 19th century for use in transporting workers and equipment along the rail lines. |
OTHER OPERATING LIVE-STEAM EQUIPMENT:
Steam Plant |
This stationary vertical steam engine, mounted on a trailer, powers a water pump and a variety of steam whistles. It will be operated by owner Jim Marchiando of Santa Barbara. |
Model Steam Engines |
The Marchiando steam plant will also power a tabletop display of model steam stationary engines, which will be demonstrated by James Higman and John Green of Santa Barbara. |
O-Gauge Steam Locomotive |
Demonstrated by its builder, Eugene Allen. |
Copyright © 2011
by Institute for American Research