Open House
October 6, 2007
Friends of the SMVRR helped the railroad hold an Open House today as part of the Grapes and Grains festival in the City of Santa Maria.
Light of the rising sun catches the rails in the yard as preparations begin for the day's activities.
Dini, Dr.Marcus, Kevin, and Karl prep the Pacific Coast Railway train brought in from Bitter Creek Western Railroad in support of the activities.
SMVRR's No. 1801 emerges from the enginehouse.
Dave throws a switch as he maneuvers No. 1801 about the yard.
No. 70 is next to come out for show-and-tell.
Kevin engineers the Pacific Coast Railway No. E-3 past No. 70.
Hal, Jack, and Karl check out the SMVRR speeder.
Kevin and Jack discuss the map of the SMVRR on display in the freight depot.
This picture of Dr. Marcus operating the Bitter Creek train is framed by the undercarriage of No. 70.
No. 1801 sitting on this particular piece of track is likely a rare event. Except for being "shown off", it would have no business being here.
The City's Grapes and Grains event came within a couple hundred feet of the SMVRR.
Too bad Kevin doesn't enjoy railroading.
Over 120 passengers took us up on the $1-ride offer.
Sidewalk chalk painting at the festival.
This youngster enjoys one of today's handouts next to the 1.5"-scale model of SMVRR Caboose No. 210.
Visitors enjoyed all of the many displays in the freight depot.
Hal Madson (r) signed both of his books: Railroads of the Santa Maria Valley, and A History of Betteravia.
Karl looks quite at home in the cab of No. 1801.
Loading up at day's end to take the 7.5" gauge train back to Bitter Creek.
Kevin works at disassembling the track with No. 70 and the two SMVRR speeders behind him.
An artsy shot taken at dawn.