What's New

The mission of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad (SMVRR) is to preserve, improve, and interpret historical and contemporary aspects of the SMVRR. We provide our members and the public with educational programs such as history, current business practices, and trends related to railroading in general and the SMVRR in particular.

Friends also conducts various activities such as field trips, tours, and travel. Friends is a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization. More information is on our About page. We welcome your Donations to Friends!

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News:

On June 11, 2025, a SMVRR Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held in the Osburn Rail Yard. Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s newest locomotive, OLMX 2025, was the backdrop for the ceremony. The Ribbon Cutting marks the celebration of OmniTRAX joint venture partnership with Coast Belle Rail Corp. This is OmniTRAX’s 29th rail operation, the first railroad as a joint venture partnership, the previous railroads were acquisitions. The Santa Maria Valley Railroad has been under family control for 100 years. Captain G. Allan Hancock and his descendants ran the railroad from 1925 to 2006 when they sold the railroad to Coast Belle Rail Corp led by Rob Himoto and his family. Family control will continue as OmniTRAX is the largest privately owned short line railroad family operation led by Pat Broe and his family.

On March 12, 2025, the SMVRR opened a new chapter and entered into a joint venture with Omnitrax! This new joint venture will allow the SMVRR to continue to grow the railroad, improve infrastructure, and improve customer service! With Omnitrax the railroad shares the same family, safety, operations, and customer service culture.

OmniTRAX, one of North America’s fastest growing privately held rail management companies, has entered into a joint venture for the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The acquisition is a joint venture partnership with Coast Belle Rail Corporation, the local operator of the railroad since 2006.

“The Santa Maria Railroad has been vital to the valley for decades and this new partnership adds the resources, relationships, and real estate development capacities to ensure that this century old railroad continues to serve Californians for generations to come,” said Santa Maria Valley Railroad President Rob Himoto.

Click here for the OmniTrax press release.

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Current Activities:

LAST CALL: 2025 Rail Photo Contest

Grab your camera and take some photos for our 5th Annual SMVRR Photo Contest. Showcase your favorite Santa Maria Valley Railroad photographs and win a prize! First, second, and third place winners will be selected in each of three categories. A new drone category has been added this year to allow all of our drone photographers to really showcase their work and creativity.

The submission deadline for the contest is October 1, 2025. Details are shown on our photo contest page.

SMVRR - OmniTRAX Partnership
Presentation by Rob Himoto
at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
on Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 11:00am

As part of the Central Coast Railroad Festival, join us at the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum this coming Sunday at 11 am to enjoy a presentation by Rob Himoto, President of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, about the Joint Venture Partnership with OmniTRAX and economic development opportunities this will bring to the Santa Maria Valley!

The talk is included with the $6 admission to the railroad museum. Admission for Railroad Museum members is always free. For all CCRRF details, visit the CCRRF website at www.ccrrf.com .

October 5 - Santa Maria Valley Historical Museum Open House

Come and See the IMPROVED Santa Maria Valley Railroad Exhibit

Join everyone on Sunday October 5, 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm for the SMV Historical Museum Open House at 616 S. Broadway in Santa Maria. The open house will feature the new and improved SMVRR exhibit and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Captain G.A. Hancock's purchase of the SMVRR. Light refreshments will be served.