Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad

Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in conjunction with the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, Guadalupe Historical Society, Guadalupe Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Guadalupe celebrated National Train Day at the Guadalupe Amtrak Station. There was also activities and live music in downtown Guadalupe.

The former Santa Maria Valley Railroad Caboose No. 210 was open to the public from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. There were exhibits and displays presented by Santa Maria Valley Railroad, Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, Amtrak, and Union Pacific Railroad along with live music at the Amtrak Station. Also across the street from the Amtrak Station an RPO Mail Car, one of only two left in existence in the Western United States, was on display.

A shuttle bus service (Guadalupe Flyer) provided in-town transportation for participants to attend activities throughout town including historical walks, visiting the historical museum, live music, and restaurants.

The Guadalupe Amtrak Station is currently served by two northbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and two southbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger trains daily. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner's schedule lends itself for a day trip to Guadalupe from the south or a lunch date to San Luis Obispo for riders from Guadalupe. Attendees traveling from south on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 799 arrive at 12:10 pm and depart at 2:36 pm allowing about 2 hours to enjoy the festivities. Local attendees can take the northbound Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 799 to San Luis Obispo at 12:10 pm and leave San Luis Obispo at 2:00 pm for about an hour in San Luis Obispo.

Photos by Jamie Foster Photography.

National Train Day at Guadalupe, May 12, 2012

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad Caboose No. 210 was open for touring from 11am to 3pm.

The northbound Pacific Surfliner arrived a couple minutes late. Folks from the Santa Barbara area got off to enjoy the festivities in Guadalupe, and local folks got on board for the trip to San Luis Obispo and about a one hour layover there to enjoy those activities before returning to "Guad".

Up at the other end of town, a public area had been turned into a car show, a music stage, and a BBQ lunch facility. From this point, walking history tours were available as well as the Guadalupe Historical Museum across the street.