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"In The News" ... from the museum newsletter, The Depot Dispatch. “Candy Cane Train” Begins Friday, Nov. 29! - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The Candy Cane Train will begin its 10th annual holiday run on Friday, Nov. 29. The popular year-end family event at the railroad museum will be held daily through Sunday, Dec. 22, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when the museum is closed. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. each day. Candy Cane Train tickets are $3 each, which includes a ride on the festively-decorated miniature train, plus an assortment of holiday treats and favors. Additional rides are 75¢ each. Members receive their usual 25¢ off on all tickets. Tickets will be sold at the museum during event hours. There is a 34-inch minimum-height requirement for riders. Fairview Car Wash & Cox Communications Will Sponsor Free-Ride Weekdays in 2003 - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Rides on the Goleta Short Line miniature train will be free to all museum visitors every Wednesday in 2003 until Thanksgiving. This newest addition to the museum’s growing calendar of free-ride days is being made possible by the generosity of Fairview Car Wash, which is also continuing its sponsorship of monthly free handcar rides at the museum through the end of 2003. Cox Communications has graciously agreed to continue its sponsorship of First Fridays Free at the museum through March 2004. The museum has been averaging more than 100 free rides each day since this program was started in April. Museum Shop Ready To Fill Your Holiday Shopping Needs - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The museum’s Trackside Shop is the perfect place to find the right gifts for those rail fans and history buffs on your holiday shopping list. For the youngsters, there’s a fresh supply of Thomas books and characters. The variety of videos, CDs and T-shirts – for young and old – has never been greater. Check out the new Southern Pacific In Los Angeles, along with many other railroad and local history titles. Every purchase helps the museum be better and stronger and, as a member, you receive a 10% discount on all shop purchases (Membership card required). We accept Mastercard and Visa, as well as your personal check. Volunteer News: Coast Starlight Program - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The Coast Starlight Interpretive Program has joined “Trails & Rails,” a nationwide program of the National Park Service. The specific sponsor within NPS is the Anza Historic Trail, which follows much of the Coast Starlight route between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. On Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 16-17, all continuing guides, along with Museum Director Gary Coombs and Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen, went through the Trails & Rails training program. One of the notable changes is that guides will now be expected to assist the train crew in the event of an onboard emergency. This Issue Sponsored By Wilson Printing - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Welcome New Members - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) We are pleased to welcome
new museum members Paul Straede (Sustaining) and Matt and Brynda
McPeters. Personal Treasures From Members & Friends Make Holiday Display Unique - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) “Toy Trains and Teddy Bears! What better symbols are there of the Holidays, Past and Present. In that spirit, these cherished keepsakes are shared anew this Joyous Season – as their gift to you – by members of our Museum Family, young and old.” Each year, this label introduces the museum’s year-end display, which can be found in Goleta Depot’s Waiting Room from Fri., Nov. 29 ‘til the New Year. This much-anticipated
and fanciful exhibition features toy locomotives, antique trains,
and stuffed animals – all borrowed from the homes of the museum’s
Junior Engineers, volunteers, other members, trustees, and staff. Parties, Parties, Parties - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Recently celebrating birthdays with parties on the grounds were Christopher Hartman, Brandon Herbdian, Nikolas Hernandez, Cooper Jasiorkowski, Joey Kauffman, Madeleine Lazarovits, Ryan Ostendorf, Alex Poirier and Tys Nean Zeyl. Sponsor Needed For “March Madness” Event - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The museum is looking for a business or other sponsor for March Madness 2003. For more information, contact Director Gary Coombs at 964-3540 (or gcoombs@goletadepot.org). Depot Night - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Guest speaker Arthur Lloyd painted an optimistic picture of Amtrak’s future during his presentation at Depot Night on Nov. 9. Lloyd expressed confidence that Amtrak’s new president, David Gunn, is the right person to lead the organization at this critical point in its history. Arthur Lloyd’s 20-year career with Amtrak included a long stint as director of public affairs, sales and government affairs for the western U.S. He is a member of the Joint Powers Board that operates CalTrain, the Bay Area Peninsula commuter rail service. He also serves on the Citizens Advisory Committee to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Lloyd traced the ups and downs of the passenger railroad industry from World War I to the present, emphasizing that tough times, like those facing Amtrak today, are nothing new. He predicted an especially strong future for passenger rail in California, due to supplemental state support and the high public demand for rail services in the state’s busy urban corridors. Lloyd urged all interested
persons to write their representatives to show their support for
passenger rail’s future. Capital Project Advances - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The museum is pleased
to acknowledge those who have made financial contributions to our
capital project. An additional $15,800 has been received from members, businesses and other friends. These include Joseph and Margaret E. Bazzi, Elsie Boeseke, Reid and Robin Cederlof, David C. Chapman, Helen Coffey, Larry Crandell, Thea Cremers, Fairview Car Wash, The De Venne Family, Ron and Derry Godar, Edwin C. Grat, Hal Lewis, Joseph H. Handlon, RoseAnn Hill, Mary Hopson, Morse and Opal Jeffers, Josiah F. Jenkins, Ellen G. Keeter, Kip and Stella Kramer, Noel and Peggy Langle, John Locke, Perry and Pat Lorentzen, Dolores Messori, Bruce Morden, Isabel Friend Newman, David and Susan Nivin Family, Paradise Machining Corp., Doris Phinney, Ken Pontifex, Louise Prottengeier, Dr. and Mrs. William Radasky, Mary H. Sonne, Thomas and Beulah Strout, Steve and Thelma Sullivan, Bob and Mary Tench, George Thorpe, Hilda Volkman, Jon and Beth Wordsworth and ZBE, Inc. An extra $19,000 in in-kind contributions of materials and labor brings the fundraising total ($78,000) to 60% of the $129,000 goal. Goleta National Bank Adopts Passenger Car - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Goleta National Bank is the new sponsor for Goleta Short Line Car No. 3. Plaques acknowledging the bank’s help are being prepared for display on the car. The museum is still looking for a sponsor for Car No. 4 and Engine No. 2655. For more information about car sponsorship, please contact Museum Director Gary Coombs (805-964-3540). “Super Saturday VII” Kick-Off Is Jan. 25 - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Jan. 25, 2003 will mark the 7th annual “Super Saturday!” at the railroad museum – an afternoon of free miniature-train rides at the railroad museum. Event hours will be 1 to 4 p.m. All riders must meet the 34-inch minimum-height requirement. Super Saturday is made possible by the sponsorship support of local businesses, organizations and members. Sponsors for the 2002 event included American Pension Co, Stephen A. Bailey, D.D.S., Bank of America, Camino Real Café, Channel Communications, Cold Spring Tavern, Michael Gartzke, C.P.A., Gold's Gym, Murphy Electric, The Pontifex Family, Ramada Limited, RP Printing & Graphics, Santa Barbara Hobbies, State Farm Insurance, Craig Schmidt Printing and The Tench Family— many of whom will be returning as Super Saturday! sponsors for 2003. Super Saturday! is held each year on the day before the Super Bowl football game. During this year’s event, 309 free train rides were given to museum visitors. Please plan to join us on Jan. 25 and help make Super Saturday VII another record breaker! New Boarding Station Sees First Service On Free Days - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Although the permanent benches and open shelter have yet to be constructed, the new Goleta Short Line boarding station has been used on a limited basis during the free-ride Fridays in October and November. On these days, passengers have been allowed to board or detrain at the new station, if they wish to do so. The first to use the new station were Melissa Marino and Sarah Starks, on Oct. 4. The new station construction has been funded in part by a grant from the PARC Foundation. The boarding station is adjacent to the new pathway gracing the west side of the grounds that hundreds of visitors have already enjoyed. Both of these features, together with the new multi-purpose building, also under construction, comprise the museum’s capital project. Depot Day Report - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) Good weather and a delightful, appreciative crowd helped to make the 20th annual Depot Day – held on Sept. 29 – a success. Special thanks are extended
to all of those who volunteered their time to ensure that the event
ran smoothly. Trustee John Locke was responsible for much of the planning for the Depot Day barbecue. Cooks, servers and food sellers on the day included Jude Blau, Carla Cabanatuan, David Chapman, Derry Godar, John Hutchinson, Joan Leipnik, Olivia Leonard, Hannah Savage, Judy Savage, Leah Savage, Kay Woolsey and Dondra. The silent auction tables were the domain of Kari Adams, Charlene Doty, Peggy Langle, Carol Matthew, Samantha Matthew, and Diana Mina. Auction sales and receipts were handled by John Starr and Margaret Pryde. Volunteers who kept the Goleta Short Line running were Gene Allen, Ron Bruns, Ted Cheesman, Jean-Guy Dube and Lavonne Sanchez. Rides on his inspection speeder were given by Bob Mahan, while Noel Langle kept the handcar moving. Pat Lorentzen, Louise
Prottengeier and Dick Shelton welcomed the day’s guests at
the admissions table. Operation Lifesaver, the organization dedicated to fostering safety around trains and railroad tracks, was ably represented by Tony Czuleger and Pineapple Leong. Edee Brown helped out in the Trackside Shop. Agent responsibilities, including ride-ticket sales, were handled by Ed Leska and Bruce Morden. The model railroad exhibit was shared by Kip Kramer and Perry Lorentzen. Many of above volunteers
also joined staff members in the unheralded chores of setup and
cleanup. Museum Tree Is Part Of A Railroad Tradition - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) If you are traveling along Los Carneros Road during the holiday season, be sure to look for the decorated tree centered in Goleta Depot’s upstairs window bay. The tree lights go on in the late afternoon, but the impact is greatest after twilight. For the first time this year, there is a new way to view and enjoy the tree lights during the daytime – from the new pathway that extends all the way around the front side of Goleta Depot. For two decades now – ever since the depot was moved to Lake Los Carneros County Park – a tree has been placed in the landmark building’s second-floor bay. This has special meaning for the Yuletide season. It preserves a venerable railroad custom, practiced down through the years by countless station-agent families across America, of putting their Christmas tree in a highly visible spot, where its message of hope and wonder could be shared with crews and riders on passing trains. The depot tree will also be ornamented with white “Remembrance Stars,” in memory of the museum’s departed friends – a custom now in its fifth year. A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 22, No. 4 - Winter 2002-2003) The middle months of 1982 were a busy time as project fundraising continued nonstop and Goleta Depot's rehabilitation entered its final phase. On July 7, the County Landmarks Committee approved landmark status for Goleta Depot, an action confirmed by the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 2. The water line to the depot was completed Aug. 9, the last of the utilities to go in. Back-filling and final grading around the depot were donated by South Coast Contractors and Santa Barbara County Parks Dept. Ernest Thomsen and Ralph Moore were responsible for hanging most of the building's doors. A dramatic transformation of the depot exterior started on Aug. 28, when members of the painters' union and local painting contractors began the application of fresh coats of colonial yellow, with white and brown accents, to the building. A new asphalt-shingle roof was one of the last building features to be installed. Early steps toward the creation of a museum took place in 1982 when Goleta Depot received its first donations of artifacts. Among the early contributors were Gary Coombs, Roger Levenson, and Sabra Stevens. Gene Allen, who served as the new museum's volunteer curator, announced in May that he had found two glass display cases that would eventually be used for several years to share many of these objects with the visiting public. In August, the Fairview Merchant's Association sponsored an auction to benefit the depot project. Meanwhile, Nancy Ried and Mary Lou Williamson were busy planning a "Surprise Trip," a fundraising event shrouded in mystery for practically everyone except the energetic twosome. In June, it was announced that the Raytheon Company had donated $2,000 to the campaign. The long-awaited "Depot Friends Photo" was taken by photographer Paul Heuston, who captured the image of about 135 project movers, shakers and supporters who posed before a picture-perfect depot on the afternoon of Oct. 9. The historic photo was published twice in the Santa Barbara News-Press when the negative was inadvertently reversed in the initial printing. More than 500 persons attended the formal dedication of Goleta Depot on Oct. 10. The program included an invocation by Rev. David Lunde, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church. The Dos Pueblos High School Marching 100 Band performed and the Ladies of Stow House League served refreshments. Among those in attendance were Congressman Robert J. Lagomarsino, Santa Barbara Mayor Sheila Lodge, and members of the County Board of Supervisors. Speakers included Goleta Beautiful president Peter Chapman, Goleta Valley Historical Society president Charles Kimbell, and Depot Committee representative Raymond Baird, and many others. A history of Goleta Depot
written by project chairman Gary Coombs was unveiled at a Nov. 28
reception and signing party held at the Holiday Inn. Sales of the
book proved to be a major campaign fundraiser. Regular weekly tours of the historical landmark, coordinated by Phyllis Olsen, were begun on Dec. 5. By Christmas, the first three nonprofit tenants had all moved into the building: the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce, Institute for American Research and Santa Barbara Audubon Society. Goleta Depot was open for business once again! 20th DEPOT DAY Is Here!! - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) Depot Day, the annual fall event that commemorates the long and eventful life of Goleta Depot, will celebrate its own 20th anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 29. This year, there will be even more to celebrate following Goleta Depot's Jan. 18 addition to the National Register of Historic Places. Depot Day is also the museum's primary annual community fundraiser. Event hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides, Rides, Rides! Barbecue Offers Choice
of Tri-Tip or Chicken Advance tickets are available in the museum's Trackside Shop (purchases can be made by credit card) or from museum trustees or staff. Musical Entertainment Silent Auction The silent auction is a very important source of revenue for the museum. Please help the museum and yourself by stopping by the tables and placing bids on some of these fabulous items. If you would like to receive a list of auction items, please send us your e-mail address (auction@goletadepot.org) or visit the museum web site (www.goleta depot.org) and select "Depot Day" on the home page. If you have new items, collectibles, or valuable services to donate to the auction, please call Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen in the museum office (964-3540). Special Guests Train Films Donations At The Door Other Food & Refreshments Circus Is Leaving
Town 20 Years In The Making - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) As we begin the unveiling of the 20th annual "Depot Day" celebration, it is interesting to look back at the origins of this yearly event. The first "Depot Day" was held Sunday, Oct. 9, 1983, to celebrate the saving of Goleta Depot and the beginning of a new chapter in the landmark's long and colorful history. The occasion marked the 10th anniversary of the closing of Goleta Depot by the Southern Pacific Railroad (in Oct. 1973) and the first anniversary of the depot's formal dedication as a Santa Barbara County Historical Landmark (Oct. 10, 1982). Depot Day was the closing event of "Goleta Valley Days," the community event, complete with crosstown parade, that eventually developed into the modern-day Lemon Festival. Many of the ingredients of that inaugural Depot Day will be familiar to those who have attended in recent years. There was an auction (but a live one rather than silent), musical entertainment (a railroad-tune contest, no less!), and plenty of food and refreshments. Some of the early elements that didn't survive the test of time included a rummage sale, produce market and baked-goods sale. Despite the passage of 20 years, the theme of Depot Day has never changed. Please join with us this year as we celebrate the longevity and the continuing saga of this remarkable and beloved building. Members Respond To Special Appeal - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) Donations totaling more than $2,000 have been received by the museum since the Spring Fundraiser. These member contributions are in response to the appeal letter that accompanied the last newsletter. Much gratitude is owed to all those who answered this special call for support. They include Christine Allen, Betty Bazzi, Ronald E. Bruns, Mr. and Mrs. Reid Cederlof, David C. Chapman, Bill Crow, Clay Dickens, Ronald Dietz, Patricia Edgerton, James and Susan Felland, and Morse and Opal Jeffers. Also, Thomas and Kathleen McDermott, Joan McDonough, Bob and Helen McPherrin, Mary Medbery, Jo Millett, Mr and Mrs John Murchison, Steve and Colleen Ozab, Marshall Payatt, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin J. Pelissero, Sally Pierce, Had and Ellie Reeves, Sonja and F.J. Renda, Robert Sanger, Robert Stone, Eita Takano, Rich and Linda Thom, George Thorpe, Hilda Volkman, Ron and Donna Zehrung and Susan, James and Morgan Petrovich. Summer Schedule Ends Sept. 29 - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) The museum will return to its regular operating hours in October. The museum will be open Wed. thru Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., with train rides offered 2-3:40 on Wednesdays and Fridays and 1:15-3:45 on weekends. Jr. Engineers Gather - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) About 68 members, family and friends attended the Junior Engineers Club's annual party on July 11. The partygoers enjoyed the Jr. Engineers cake and other treats and refreshments and a total of 126 free rides on the Goleta Short Line train. Welcome, New Members - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) New Milepost 100 member include Grafskoy Hindeloopen Ltd., LLC; Vadim M. Hsu, A.I.A.; L & P Consultants; Mrs. Elizabeth R. Labrash; Land Use Planners & Consultants; Joel Maloney; Charles and Elise Meyer; MFC&V Insurance Services; Dylan Minor; Santa Barbara Capital; Taft Electric Co.; Richard and Pat Tench; The Tile Collection; URS Corporation; Brian White; and Todd Williams. Stanley C. Sofas is a new Sustaining member. New Active members are Peter Bennett and Julie Bubul, Rick Cremeen, Dennis and Beth Morales, and the vanZeyl Family. New Junior Engineers Club members are Ryan Eastwood, David Figueroa, Cooper Jasiorkowski, Madeleine Lazarovits, Frances and Miles Kretschmer, Stephen Nagatoshi, Ryan Ostendorf, Kenzie Togami and Austin Venezia. Greetings to all new members. Foundations Award Grants - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) The museum has received a $5,000 grant from the Mid-State Bank Foundation and a $1,000 grant from the Schulte Family Foundation. Both awards are for the museum's capital project. Volunteer News - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) Congratulations to James Ryan for completing all of his Coast Starlight guide training. And, welcome to Rick Cremeen. Rick is a new volunteer learning to operate the miniature train. Steaming Summer 2002 Was Really Smokin' - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) The 1,114 train rides given over Steaming Summer weekend was an alltime two-day record for the museum. But this year's event was a lot more... the presence of five steam locomotives, coupled with Ted Cheesman's circus-train cars and everything else going on, made this one of the most exciting steam events ever held at the museum. Thanks are owed to all who helped to make the event possible, especially to Gene Allen, who organized the motive power, arranging for William Brunner, Bill Hoey and Michael Zuker to share their locomotives this year. Arthur Lloyd Will Headline "Depot Night" on Nov. 9 - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) Arthur L. Lloyd, winner of Amtrak's coveted "Champion Of The Rails" award for 2002, will be the featured speaker at Depot Night on Sat., Nov. 9. Santa Barbara's own Larry Crandell will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The event will also feature a retrospective on the history of Goleta Depot, from its earliest days to its rebirth as home of the South Coast Railroad Museum, and a salute to museum volunteers, past and present. Arthur Lloyd will speak
on the future of passenger railroading in America. There are few
who are more familiar with that topic than the long-time director
of Amtrak public affairs, sales and Tickets for the event at the Timbers Restaurant are $30 ($25 for members), which includes a buffet-style dinner. A no-host social hour will start at 6 p.m. Reservations are a must: Call the museum at 805-964-3540 to hold your seats. Handcar Has A New Home - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) The museum handcar has carried more than 14,000 passengers since volunteers completed its construction in 1988. In July, SWAP workers built a new shed for the handcar at the north end of the mainline track. This location will make it easier to ready the car for rides. Construction Progress - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) As this issue of the Depot Dispatch goes to the printer on Sept. 13, considerable headway has been made on the two new additions to the grounds that comprise our capital project. The new sidewalk should
be ready for limited use by Depot Day. When completed, the walkway This project is being made possible by a growing list of foundations, businesses, organizations, families and individuals. A complete list will be published in the next Depot Dispatch. If you have been thinking about lending your own support, now is the time to act! A Look Back: 20 Years Ago - (Vol. 22, No. 3 - Fall 2002) Project fundraising activity, long at a frenetic pace, seemed only to intensify in the months following Goleta Depot's Nov. 1981 move to Lake Los Carneros County Park. Depot fundraisers seldom missed a chance to make money for the campaign. Here's just a sampling of what was done. The bricks were salvaged from the old depot foundation immediately after the move and 200 of these were given numbered brass plaques and sold for $5 apiece, an effort spearheaded by Nancy Ried and Gene Allen. Meanwhile, Phyllis Olsen, later to become the project’s fundraising chair, was busy rounding up sponsors for all of the depot's windows and doors – at $40 and $150 each, respectively. The 17th annual Goleta Valley Night, sponsored by the Goleta Lions and Santa Barbara News-Press, was held Feb. 27. The theme was "Goleta Depot – An Excursion Into The Past" and the $1,500 in proceeds went to the depot project. WWII veterans from the 244th Marine Dive Bomber Squadron held their 40-year reunion here in February. The unit, which had been shipped out for duty in the Pacific in early 1943 by way of Goleta Depot, raised $235 for the project by selling chances on a 10-lb Hershey bar! The Cattlemen's Restaurant and Saloon held a St. Patrick's Day bash, with the $2 cover charge going to the depot. On April 24, the Institute for American Research hosted a "walk-a-thon" type fundraiser called the "Asphalt Regatta." The event, which earned about $1,500 for the project, would grow to become the South Coast Railroad Museum's spring fundraiser, which celebrated its 21st anniversary in 2002. Project souvenirs, including a "Have You Hugged Your Depot Today" T-shirt designed by teenager Stephanie Coombs, a "Goleta Depot" patch, and prints of artworks depicting the historical landmark, were sold at a makeshift "Depot Store" inside Mike's Industrial Supplies at 5968 Hollister Ave. The Goleta Valley Historical Society shared proceeds from its summer barbecue, held June 5, with the depot campaign. These and many other fundraisers (including "Adopt-A Depot" cans for accepting donations of spare change placed on store counters around town) energized the community, bringing many into the depot fold, but most of the big money for the project came from lone contributors. Shortly after the move, Carl and Verna Smith donated $2,000 to the project, one of the largest contributions received up to that time. A $5,000 from the Santa Barbara Foundation soon followed. Wells Fargo Bank used Goleta Valley Night in February as the stage for presenting a $3,000 check for the depot's rebirth. In June, a $2,000 gift from Raytheon was reported in the Depot Dispatch. Work on the building restoration and rehabilitation progressed more slowly after the move, partly because of bad weather, and also because funds were limited, so that the construction often had to wait for the fundraising successes. Restoration of the depot's
windows and doors began in the early months of 1982. Volunteers
included Michael Glassow and Bob Hiestand (working on the windows)
and Gene Allen, Ralph Moore and Ernie Thomsen (doors). The project also turned to unskilled labor for help. Saturday mornings were set aside for the general public to come out and lend a hand. Among those who gave of their time were Goleta Valley Jr. High School students, who had been offered extra credit by their instructors. Project architect Ray Baird volunteered countless hours over this period, supervising the rebuilding effort in the absence of a paid general contractor. And Gary Coombs, overall project chairman, worked to keep everything on track. Goleta Depot Receives National Recognition - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Goleta Depot has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The action was taken on Jan. 18 by the U.S. Dept. of Interior, upon the recommendation of the Calif. Historical Resources Commission, which was forwarded to Washington, D.C. late last year by Dr. Knox Mellon, the State Historic Preservation Officer. At the same time, Goleta Depot was also added to the Calif. Registry of Historical Resources. The decision by the state
commission was based on both Goleta Depot’s distinctive architecture
and the important role the depot played in the history and development
of its community Celebration Ceremony
Held At the podium, Mayor Connell said, “I remember when the depot was sitting boarded up beside the train tracks ... looking as though its last days were near.” And, speaking about the Goleta Depot Committee and depot volunteers over the years, she remarked, “We as a community owe them an enormous debt of gratitude, not only for saving this historic building but for the wonderful museum and the educational and fun programs they’ve built around it.” Museum director Gary
Coombs described how the depot had earned a place on the National
Register, explaining that Goleta Depot “had a profound effect
on the people of its community. It was used by just about everyone.
It touched the everyday lives of so many people.” “Steaming Summer”
Set For July 27-28 Weekend - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Get ready for the 2002 edition of Steaming Summer, the South Coast Railroad Museum’s only two-day event, which will celebrate its 16th anniversary over the weekend of July 27-28. Steaming Summer gets its name from the miniature steam locomotives that visit the museum once a year to pull the Goleta Short Line trains and their passengers. This year’s event promises to be an extra special one, as the museum hosts the largest locomotive ever to run on the museum tracks: A brand-new 2-8-0 Consolidation built by Eugene Allen, owner of Allen Models, Inc (see photo on page 4). Joining in engine service over the busy weekend will be two other Allen Models locomotives, a 2-6-0 mogul, owned by Bill Hoey, and Gene Allen’s own 4-4-0 American. For the fifth year, a circus theme will highlight Steaming Summer. One of the trains will be a circus train, including several unique circus cars from the collection of Ted Cheesman. Ted’s squirting-elephant car and the calliope car with the bubble-blowing bear were big favorites last year! Those in attendance will be able to ride the circus train, or any of the other trains operating during the event. The circus motif will carry over into the model-railroad exhibit, where Ken and Carolyn Weber’s “K&C Famous Family Circus” will occupy a parcel of vacant land near the Santa Barbara roundhouse. The HO-scale three-ring circus has been entertaining Steaming Summer crowds since 1999. It features a big top and an operating 20-car circus train. Daily admission to Steaming
Summer is only $3, which includes unlimited rides on the Goleta
Short Line trains and the museum handcar (Riders must meet minimum-height
requirements: 34” for train; 48” for handcar.). Steaming Summer is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Toyota of Santa Barbara, with additional support from the Goleta Lions Club. The $3 admission charge ($2.75 for members) applies to everyone, including those who elect not to ride, while infants and any others who are unable to ride the train will be admitted without charge. For late arrivals, the admission price drops to $2 after 3 p.m. Advance tickets, at 50¢ off (75¢ off with membership card) are now available in the museum’s Trackside Shop. The program will also include continuous free showings of railroad films, with an emphasis on steam locomotion, including tutorials on how to operate and maintain a steam engine — all shown in the museum's Gandy Dancer Theater. Tri-tip sandwiches, “Depot Dogs,” beverages, and other lunch and snack items will be available during the event. Don't miss this once-a-year chance to see and ride on a steam-powered Goleta Short Line train! Youth Groups Tour Museum - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) School and youth groups making recent visits to the museum include Montecito Union School, the Santa Barbara YMCA and Christ Lutheran Church. SB Passport Program Encouraged Museum Visits - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) From Dec. 6 through April 15, the railroad museum has been working with 13 other local museums and the Community Environmental Council in the “Passport To Santa Barbara” program. The program uses incentives to encourage young people to visit these local institutions. Among the rewards: a T-Shirt for those who visit 10 or more of the participating sites. The program gave a real boost to attendance at the railroad museum. During the program period, our museum hosted 352 children who were Passport participants. These youngsters were accompanied by 321 parents and other adults, along with 98 non-participating brothers and sisters and other children, for a grand total of 771. All of these museum guests took the self-guided tour of Goleta Depot. PARC Foundation Awards Capital Grant - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) The museum has received a grant from the PARC Foundation, which supports a variety of educational and recreational programs in local parks. The $400 grant will be used to build a new passenger boarding station about midway along the Goleta Short Line right-of-way. The new facility will double as a viewing bench for studying and enjoying Goleta Depot’s architecture. Construction of the sidewalk leading to the new station is expected to begin by the end of August. Spring Fundraiser Passes $12,000 - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) The museum’s 20th annual spring fundraiser has garnered $12,279 in donations and pledges, surpassing the 2001 total, but falling short of the $16,000 goal set by the board of trustees. Fourteen trustees, volunteers and staff members participated in the fundraising effort, which included more than 160 contributions, mostly from museum members. Great Race Results: Train Wins!!! - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Despite a handicap of more than 37 rider-miles, the Goleta Short Line miniature-train was declared the winner of the 2002 Great Goleta Rail Race. The event, held Saturday, May 18, pitted the train against the museum handcar. In victory, the train logged a total of 54.7 rider-miles, compared with 13.7 rider-miles for the handcar. The train also won the competition in 2001. The handcar prevailed in 1998-2000. Overall, 325 free rides were given to museum visitors during the event, which was made possible by the 168 individuals, families, businesses and organizations that contributed to the organization’s spring fundraiser. “March Madness” Made Another Hectic Museum Month - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Free rides given during the 4th annual March Madness reached 2,090 – passing the 2,000 mark for the third consecutive year. The event was shortened by a couple of days this year, because Easter Sunday (which is always preceded by the museum’s Easter Bunny Express event) fell on March 31. The combination of March Madness and the Easter Bunny Express in a single month proved to be a formidable one: The Goleta Short Line carried more passengers in March 2002 than in any other single month in the museum’s history. Sincere thanks are expressed to our friends at Fairview Car Wash, which sponsored March Madness for a second year. 2nd Annual “Rotary Day” - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) There were free train and handcar rides for everyone at the museum on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16. The free day was made possible by the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime, which first sponsored “Rotary Day” in 2001. About 140 total rides were given during the afternoon. Rotarians Richard Abbott, Ed Graper, Susan Plumer also were on hand to assist with the handcar ride and to promote the Rotary’s 4th of July fireworks show. Proceeds from the fireworks event have benefitted the South Coast Railroad Museum and other local nonprofit organizations for a number of years. Summer Means Longer Hours - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) The museum will operate on an expanded schedule throughout the months of July, August and September. The museum will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. during this period. The train ride will operate all five days from 11 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. Volunteers Make Easter Bunny Express Happen - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Special thanks are due to all of the volunteers who helped to make the Easter Bunny Express on March 30 such a successful event. Ticket sales were handled with aplomb by Margaret Pryde and John Starr. John traveled all the way from Ridgecrest for the occasion. Ride volunteers included Bob Burtness and Jason Poole, on the EBX train, and Noel Langle and Bruce Morden, on the handcar. Perry Lorentzen kept the trains running smoothly in the model-railroad exhibit room. Arlene Radasky and Judy Blue staffed the “What’s Up Dock” station, handing out cute bunny stickers and pencils to our event guests. Ticketholders received a drawing chance for some adorable stuffed bunnies at “Jack-Rabbit Junction” where Peggy Langle held sway throughout the day. Judy Connors, Pat Lorentzen, Lora Prater and Dick Shelton took turns distributing the cookies and punch at “Harvey’s House.” John Locke and David Chapman shared the day’s cooking responsibilities, while Judy Blue, Lupe Garcia, Olivia Leonard, Jo Little, and Diana Mina sold and served the hot sandwiches and ice cold beverages. Volunteers who helped with setup and cleanup included Judy Blue, Bob Burtness, David Chapman, Noel Langle, Peggy Langle, John Locke, Diana Mina, Bruce Morden and John Starr. Jr. Engineers Club Party - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) The annual Junior Engineers Club Party will be held Thursday, July 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be delicious refreshments and free miniature-train rides for all in attendance. To make your reservations, please call the museum office (964-3540). Welcome New Members - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Zac P. Bogart is a new Milepost 100 member. New active members include Sabri Balcin, Martin Birnbach, Chris DeAmicis and Michael Melvin-Pagaling. The museum has 32 new additions to the Junior Engineers Club! They are Logan Patrick Avery, Travis Ray Brashears, Marie Brashears, Matthew Burns, Kevin Burton, Travis Burton, Fergus Caldow, Tristan Caldow, Charlie Carter, Joey Carter, Benjamin Choi, Joyce Choi, Alijah Grant, William Hahn, Christopher Hartman, Leslie Hartman, Wade Labrie, Briana Montero, Eric Montero, Joshua Montero, Cameron Nichoson, Tyler Nichoson, Spencer Piligian, Alex Poirier, Nicolas Poirier, Danny Reder, Ian Saunders, Kyle Saunders, Pierce Simmons, Sarah Taylor, Spencer Taylor and Zachary D. Wellington. Greetings to all of our new museum members. Volunteer News - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Congratulations to Coast Starlight Guides Doug Barteld and Sally Cappon. They have completed all of their guide training. * Join * Help * Serve * More volunteers are needed in all visitor-service areas at the museum, including engineers, conductors and crew to operate the miniature-train and handcar rides, clerks for the museum store, and “station agents,” who share the historical landmark and model railroad exhibit with our guests. The basic volunteer commitment is one afternoon (three hours) a month. Both weekend and weekday openings are available. More Coast Starlight guides are also needed. Upon completion of training, guides are expected to complete an average of two train trips per month. For more information, please contact the museum office (805-964-3540) any weekday afternoon. “Depot Day” Is Coming - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) Sunday, Sept. 29 will mark the 20th annual Depot Day, the South Coast Railroad Museum's big fall celebration. Mark the date on your calendar and check the next Depot Dispatch newsletter issue for all of the details on this year’s event. Museum Hosts B’Day Parties - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) The museum’s popularity as a site for birthday parties continues to grow. Those celebrating recent birthdays at the museum include Logan Avery, Leshon Bell, Travis Brashears, Connor Brindly, Charlie and Joey Carter, Joyce and Benjamin Choi, Chase Dietz, Madison Dochterman, Scott Feldman, Alex Forcillo, William Hahn, Hunter Heilman, John Hollifield, Spencer Piligian, Joseph Rainbolt, Pierce Simmons and Sarah Taylor. A brochure describing how to plan your party and reserve one of our party areas is available at the museum. Or, call Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen (805-964-3540) for more information. This Issue Sponsored By Wilson Printing - (Vol. 22, No. 2 - Summer 2002) EBX Rolls On March 30 - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The 10th annual Easter Bunny Express will be coming earlier than usual this year – on Saturday, March 30. The event is always scheduled for the day before Easter, which falls early in 2002. Hours for the Easter Bunny Express are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $3 per person, adult or child, which includes the event’s distinctive egg-shaped ticket. Ticket-holders will enjoy a number of fun activities while visiting Wabbit- Twacks Station (to ride the decorated train); Harvey’s House (for cookie & beverage treats); Easter-Bunnyville (to meet the Easter Bunny and receive an egg surprise); Jack-Rabbit Junction (to enter a drawing for some great gifts); and What’s Up Dock (to collect another souvenir). Tickets may be purchased in advance and will also be available during the event until 3:30 p.m. Decoration of the museum
grounds has already begun for this year’s event, with the dramatic
appearance of the first blooms of nasturtium and California poppy.
Bunnyland should be bursting with color by event time! Hop aboard the Easter Bunny Express on March 30 (Rain date: April 6). It’s going to be another hare-raising eggs-perience for the whole family! “March Madness” Is Upon Us - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Don’t miss the chance to ride the Goleta Short Line trains as much as you like from March 1st through the 29th, as March Madness makes its 4th annual appearance at the railroad museum. The train will operate on an expanded schedule throughout March Madness: Wed. thru Sun. from 1 until 3:45. The event is being sponsored for the second year by Fairview Car Wash, which also sponsors the free handcar rides offered on the third Saturday of every month. When you visit the car wash, or call (967-6530), please be sure to thank them for all of their support!
New Program Introduces Children To Local Museums - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Since December, the railroad museum has been participating in a “Passport To Santa Barbara” program along with 13 other local museums and the Community Environmental Council. The program is centered around a booklet that has been distributed to thousands of South Coast elementary school children. One page in the booklet is devoted to each of the participating organizations. On completing a special activity at one of these participating sites, the child receives a stamp on the corresponding booklet page, as proof of their visit (Youngsters also receive free admission for themselves and one adult at those museums where an admission fee is usually charged.). Children who receive 10 or more booklet stamps are eligible to receive a special Passport T-shirt. At the railroad museum, the required activity is to complete the self-guided tour, either with or without parental assistance. The result has been remarkable: The museum has set all-time records for tours for each of the three months that the program has been in operation. The Passport program is a project of the Museum Educators’ Roundtable. The railroad museum is a Roundtable member. Museum director Gary Coombs is the senior editor of “Plugged In,” the Roundtable’s other major project, a full-color educational page for young readers published monthly in the Santa Barbara News-Press. Cox Communications Makes “First Fridays Free” - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Starting April 5, rides
on the Goleta Short Line miniature train will be free on the first
Friday of every month. “Super Saturday VI” Report - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The 6th annual Super Saturday free-ride day, held on Feb. 2, had a record 16 sponsors, more than twice as many as in any previous year! Corporate, business and professional sponsors included American Pension Co.; Stephen A. Bailey, DDS; Bank of America; Camino Real Café; Channel Communications; Cold Spring Tavern; Michael J. Gartzke CPA; Gold’s Gym; Murphy Electric; Ramada Limited; RP Printing; Santa Barbara Hobbies; Craig Schmidt Printing; and State Farm Insurance: Ed Attlesey & Tammy Dobrotin, Agents. Also sponsoring the event were the families of museum trustees Ken Pontifex and Robert Tench. An appreciative throng of museum visitors enjoyed 309 free rides during the busy afternoon. Noel Langle and Dick Shelton staffed a museum table and distributed many of the special football-shaped Super Saturday tickets at the Goleta Cityhood Birthday Celebration held the same day at Girsh Park. Tuohy Foundation Awards $5,000 Capital Grant For Building Project - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The museum has received a capital-improvement grant from the Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation of Santa Barbara. The $5,000 grant will be used for the new multi-purpose building and westside pathway that the museum has been planning. The building will house the museum’s Visitor Welcome Center and an expanded museum store. To date, cash gifts and pledges have passed the $52,000 mark. Gifts and pledges of building materials and labor add about $21,000 more to this total. The Santa Barbara Foundation, Wood-Claeyssens Foundation, and La Vista Foundation for the Blind and Physically Handicapped are also major foundation supporters. All members of the museum’s board of trustees have made pledges or donations to the project. Other donors include Reid and Robin Cederlof, Larry Crandell, Thea Cremers, The De Venne Family, Fairview Car Wash, Ron and Derry Godar, Joseph Handlon, Josiah F. Jenkins, Ellen Keeter, Harold Lewis, David and Susan Nivin, Paradise Machining Co., William and Arlene Radasky, Mary Sonne, Steve and Thelma Sullivan, and Hilda Volkman. Donors of $1,000 or more will be acknowledged on a permanent plaque displayed in the new Welcome Center. Estimated project costs are $135,000. Construction is expected to begin by mid-year. Members Share Keepsakes In Annual Holiday Display - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The 2001 holiday display, “Toy Trains and Teddy Bears!” in Goleta Depot’s Waiting Room was enjoyed by hundreds of year-end visitors to the museum. The annual exhibit included antique and toy trains and railroad models donated by Board President Noel Langle; Volunteers Eugene Allen, Ron Bruns, Robert Burtness, Jean-Guy Dubé, and Ed Leska; and Junior Engineers Shawn Babcock, Cody Stocker and Eita Takano. Stuffed animals and other keepsakes were contributed to the exhibit by Asst. Director Phyllis Olsen; Volunteers Edee Brown, Ron Bruns, and Bob Burtness; Members David and Susan Nivin; and Junior Engineers Alexander DeVenne and Olivia DeVenne. “Candy Cane Train” Was Another Good One - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) With a big closing weekend, including 210 riders on Sunday, Dec. 23, the 2001 Candy Cane Train overtook and passed the 2000 event in terms of attendance totals. Hindered by a number of rainouts and rain-shortened days, the 9th annual event had to come from far behind to reach the final tally of 1,580 riders, just 37 more than last year. Despite the rough weather,
it was a wonderful holiday season, which seemed to be thoroughly
enjoyed by our visitors. For many of our holiday guests, that pleasure
is continuing into the new year, as they use the coupons good for
free rides in January or February that were givn out to all Candy
Cane Train ticket-holders. The Candy Cane Train has earned its reputation as one of the area’s favorite family entertainments for the holiday season. Native Daughters’ Flags Are Flying Over Goleta Depot - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The Native Daughters of the Golden West, Reina Del Mar Parlor, have donated a pair of American and California flags to the museum. The gift was made during an impressive Nov. 16 presentation ceremony presided over by parlor president Dolores Hartnett. Other members of the presentation team were Native Daughters Betty Dominguez, Alice TarBush and Thelma Tate and Dolores’ husband, Al Hartnett. The next time you visit the museum, be sure to take a moment to notice how proudly the Native Daughters’ flags fly over the grounds. Hutton Foundation Sponsors New School & Youth Program - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Children who visit the railroad museum and tour the historical landmark with their school or youth organization will now be able to receive a free miniature train ride as part of their museum experience. Teachers and youth-group leaders are also included in the giveaway. The program, which is
designed to encourage local-history education, is made possible
by a grant from the Hutton Foundation. As for the landmark tours,
themselves, they are always free to schools and youth groups. Museum Hosts B’Day Parties - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Those celebrating December, January and February birthdays at the museum include Max Bidler, Henry Farrell, Christopher Gaffney, Edvard Indrebo, John and Anne Kehl, Kyle Lawson, Timmy Piozet, Ricky Rademacher, David Shove and Soren Wilde. A brochure describing how to plan your party and reserve one of our party areas is available at the museum. Or, call Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen (805-964-3540) for more information. In Memoriam - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) The museum has lost two
longtime friends and supporters, Florence McNally and Robert Prottengeier.
Bob Prottengeier and his wife, Louise, were among the original “Friends
of Goleta Depot.” He died Sept. 18. 20th Spring Fundraiser Will Be May 18 - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) This year’s “Great Goleta Rail Race” will be held Sat., May 18. For the sixth year, the event will feature unlimited train and handcar rides for all visitors. The Great Race is the museum’s spring fundraiser, the organization’s oldest annual event. It is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2002. The Great Race is one of the organization’s most important annual income sources, generating more than 10% of the funds needed for operations. Funds are raised by the event participants, including members of the Board of Trustees, volunteers, and other members, who obtain financial pledges from sponsors, including area businesses, organizations, fellow members, and others, both in our community and beyond. This year’s goal is $16,000, about $3,000 more than has been raised in the past. To achieve this goal – which is critical to keep the museum running smoothly – it will take more pledges and, in turn, more people collecting pledges. Please consider taking a more active role in this year’s spring fundraiser, by contacting the museum office for a pledge sheet and instructions. If you can’t collect pledges, please make a pledge of your own – by completing and returning the enclosed Great Race donation card with your pledge or payment. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Larry Crandell is a new
Milepost 100 member. Other new members include Glenn Anderson, Eric
Dietrich, Lloyd van Horsen, Tim Kehl, Jason Poole, Paul Raimer,
Frank and Sonja Renda, and Julienne Hackley Unger. Great Race & International Museum Day Collide - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) May 18 is Great Race
day at our museum. Coincidentally, it is also International Museum
Day around the world. Volunteer News - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) Glenn Anderson and Jason Poole have recently joined the corps of museum volunteers. Both young men are training as crew members on the Goleta Short Line. Glenn and Jason are also learning to share the model railroad exhibit with our visitors. Coast Starlight Guide Training Congratulations to Jan Bisol, Lora Prater, Cecelia Puppo and Bob Seward. They have all completed their training and are now Coast Starlight guides. Guides-in-training Doug Barteld, Sally Cappon, and James Ryan successfully completed their audition trips on Feb. 15. During the trip, the trio performed guide services aboard the Coast Starlight while being evaluated by Museum Director Gary Coombs and Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen. Welcome to Paul Raimer, the interpretive program’s newest recruit. * Join * Help * Serve * There is a need for more volunteers in all visitor-service areas at the museum, including volunteers to operate the miniature-train and handcar rides, clerks for the museum store, and “station agents,” who share the historical landmark and model railroad exhibit with our guests. The basic volunteer commitment is one afternoon (three hours) a month. Both weekend and weekday openings are available. More Coast Starlight guides are also needed. Upon completion of training, guides are expected to complete an average of two train trips per month. For more information, please contact the museum office (805-964-3540) any weekday afternoon. A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 22, No. 1 - Spring 2002) “The Goleta Depot sailed smoothly, like a ship through the night.” That’s how Steve Sullivan, veteran reporter and Goleta bureau chief with the Santa Barbara News-Press described the move of the landmark building from its trackside birthplace to the new home waiting at Lake Los Carneros County Park. The historic event began at precisely 1:28 p.m. on Wed, Nov. 18, 1981, when two trucks of the AA Jet Moving Co. of Norwalk, Calif. began to roll slowly south along Kellogg Ave. Their precious cargo had been cut in two by chainsaw-wielding workmen earlier that week. The convoy traveled only about two blocks before the drivers pulled off the street onto an adjoining field. This would be the staging area for the greater drama that lay ahead. A delay was needed, until the traffic was lighter, during the wee hours of the following morning. A good-sized crowd was on hand to witness the start of this march into history — well-wishers and spectators, the movers, of course, members of Goleta Beautiful’s Depot Committee, and many others. The media were there and, overhead, utility workers were busy adjusting wires so that the curious parade could pass. When the afternoon’s action subsided, the throng trickled away. The depot’s journey resumed at about midnight. The truck with the heaviest load, carrying the building’s massive two-story section, took the lead, a position it would hold from start to finish. From Kellogg Ave., the convoy turned west onto Hollister Ave, traveling several blocks on the wrong side of the street to avoid a succession of lights and signs suspended over the lanes on the north side of the boulevard. It all made quite a procession. For safety, the sides of the two depot pieces were strung with colorful running lights, which made them look like a pair of huge Christmas trees. And the depot was not alone. Many people, especially those who were particularly close to the project ,would keep it — and one another — company throughout the nighttime trek. In the lead were Nancy Ried and Mary Lou Williamson, who ceremoniously followed, on foot, the road centerlines all of the way to the new site. Also on hand throughout the vigil were Depot Committee members Phyllis Olsen, Raymond Baird and Gary Coombs, and Gary’s daughters, Stephanie, age 11, and Heather, 10. Park Commissioner Karen Swenson, who had been instrumental in gaining County approvals and some much-needed funding in the Park Dept. budget, also was there. Committeeman George Adams and Goleta Chamber of Commerce Exec. Director Anna Dato followed much of the action by car, with George playing a cassette tape of train sounds for the benefit of anyone within earshot. Roving about were Paul Heuston and UCSB professor Michael Glassow, who took some wonderful photographs and slides of the move that South Coast Railroad Museum visitors marvel at to this day. From Hollister Ave., the route turned north, crossing Highway 101 via the Fairview Ave. overpass. The trucks, and their massive loads, made the climb and descent without incident. Next was a left turn onto Calle Real, where a bundle of high voltage wires a mile ahead at La Patera Lane caused a temporary halt to the progress. With Edison workers raising the wires as much as possible, the two-story section squeaked by underneath, the wires scraping along a wooden skid-plate that the movers had attached to the depot roof. Having successfully navigated the narrow stretch of Calle Real west of La Patera Lane, the trucks turned north onto Los Carneros Road for the final stretch run. Both pieces of the depot were off the street and onto the park site at 3:03 a.m. Five minutes later, both engines had been cut and all lights extinguished. The lead in the next issue of the Depot Dispatch aptly summed up the feeling of accomplishment: WE DID IT!!! Copyright © 2002 by Institute for American Research |
