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"In The News" ... from the museum newsletter, The Depot Dispatch. Volume 24 - (ISSUES IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER) Candy Cane Train - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Thanksgiving is almost here, which means that another sweet season of rides aboard the Candy Cane Train is about to begin. This year’s event – the 12th annual – opens Friday, Nov. 26. The popular year-end event will be held at the museum daily through Dec. 24, except Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 13-14, when the museum is closed. During the week leading up to Christmas, the museum will be open two additional days – Monday & Tuesday, Dec. 20 & 21 – to allow for some extra Candy Cane Train runs while schools are out for the holidays. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. each day, but we urge you to arrive at the museum not later than 3:30, in order to enjoy all of the Candy Cane Train activities. 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 every ticket purchased. Tickets will be sold at the museum during event hours. For the safety of our younger riders, the museum’s 34-inch minimum-height requirement applies for all Candy Cane Train passengers. Holiday “Toy Train & Teddy Bear” Display Allows Members To Share - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) A constant companion of the Candy Cane Train is the museum’s festive display, “Toy Trains and Teddy Bears!” The annual seasonal exhibition is a chance for members and others from the museum to share personal items with our holiday-season visitors. Included are toy locomotives, antique trains, and stuffed animals – all loaned for the occasion by the museum’s Junior Engineers and other members, volunteers, trustees, and staff. When you come to the museum during the holidays, be sure to make a trip to the Waiting Room, to enjoy this year’s show. The exhibition’s label says it all: “Toy Trains & 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.” Don’t Pass Up Super Saturday! - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) The 9th annual “Super Saturday!” is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 5 at the railroad museum. The event will mark the first weekend day of free miniature-train rides for the general public in 2005. Everyone in attendance will also receive one of the football-shaped tickets that have become a hallmark of the event. Super Saturday! is always held the day before the Super Bowl football game, which falls in February in 2005. Super Saturday! would not be possible without the generosity of a long list of local businesses, organizations and members, which gives us a chance to mention and thank again all who helped in 2004. They include The American Pension Co; Cold Spring Tavern; Michael Gartzke, C.P.A.; “Dr J” Neel, Optometrist; Bruce & Andrea Morden Family; Ken Pontifex Family; Ramada Limited; Santa Barbara Hobbies; State Farm Insurance (Agents Ed Attlesey & Tammy Dobrotin); Peter Tiersma and Western Welding. Every year, many previous sponsors return to renew their support of the event. Santa Barbara Foundation Makes Theater Improvements Possible - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Thanks to a grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation, the museum will be able to upgrade the facilities of the Gandy Dancer Theater, one of the museum’s earliest attractions. The museum plans to use the $1,900 grant to purchase a new monitor, DVD player and security camera for the theater. These additions will give museum guests an improved theater experience, while providing a safer environment for theater patrons and equipment, alike. It will be the first time that films in the museum’s library can be shown in DVD form. The theater began back in 1989, when the museum purchased a used television set and VCR and began showing rail-travel documentaries to its visitors. The following year, we bought the large-screen rear-projection monitor that is still in use in the theater today. Every day that the museum is open, there’s always something about trains showing in the Gandy Dancer Theater. Sundays have always been special theater days, with scheduled screenings of railroad-theme feature films, and travel and historical documentaries. In 1992, the schedule was expanded to include Thursdays as well. Over the years, there have been about 47,000 total visits to the Gandy Dancer Theater. Holiday Party Is Festive Family Get-Together - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) If your busy holiday-season schedule has an opening on the evening of Dec. 8, we hope you, along with family members or a guest, will join us for the museum’s annual holiday party. It’ll be at the Goleta Library, 500 North Fairview Ave., starting at 7 p.m. There’ll be plenty of good company and delicious food on hand, especially if you are there and bring along a dessert or hors d'oeuvres to share with others. The museum will supply the beverages, cups, napkins, and plates. Free-Ride Day Slated For March 5 - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) An afternoon of free miniature-train rides is being planned for Saturday, March 5. The event is a project of museum intern Samantha Escobar, who is also co-community-service chair for the Lambda Theta Nu sorority at UCSB. The sorority will be co-sponsoring the event as a community awareness day, focusing on local Latino families. Easter Bunny Express Is Just Around The Corner - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Easter comes early next year, which means the same for the museum’s much-anticipated 2005 Easter Bunny Express event. Watch for all of the egg-citing de-tails of the Saturday, March 26 celebration in your next Depot Dispatch newsletter issue. Museum Store Is Perfect Holiday Shopping Place - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Looking for the ideal gift for those rail fans and history buffs on your holiday shopping list? You can’t go wrong at the museum’s Trackside Shop, where the parking is free and your purchases help to benefit the museum. For the young ones on your list, we have a variety of Polar Express books, including the Chris Van Alsberg original, and a lot of new Thomas The Tank Engine items. The selection of videos, DVDs, CDs and T-shirts – for young and old – has never been greater. For the collector, we have some of the last authentic Goleta lemon-crate labels, available individually or in complete sets of all seven labels. Be sure to show your membership card to receive a 10% discount on all shop purchases. We accept Mastercard, Visa, and personal checks. Fairview Car Wash Renews “Free Wednesdays” Sponsorship - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Free-ride Wednesdays will resume in January thanks to the continuing support of Fairview Car Wash, which has renewed its sponsorship through the first half of 2005. Museum visitors may ride as often as they like any Wednesday afternoon between the hours of 2 and 3:45 p.m. All riders must meet the museum’s 34-inch minimum-height requirement. Wood-Claeyssens Foundation Awards Grant for Train Ride Improvements - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) The museum has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation. Grant monies will be used to expand and improve the Goleta Short Line miniature-train ride. A portion of the grant will also be used to support free miniature-train rides for school and youth groups that come to the museum for a guided tour of the historical landmark. Venoco and News-Press Give Advertising Support - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) Special thanks are extended to Venoco, Inc. and the Santa Barbara News-Press for their help in promoting recent museum events. Grants from both organizations made it possible to run display ads in the local print media to get the word out about Depot Day, the Candy Cane Train and the “Polar Express” benefit. “Polar Express” Benefit Draws Big, Enthusiastic Crowd - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) About 300 members and museum supporters were on hand for the special benefit screening of The Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks, on Saturday, Nov. 13. The Paseo Nuevo Cinema in Santa Barbara was the venue for the morning showing. Metropolitan Theatres generously donated the private screening, so that all ticket-sales proceeds go to the railroad museum. Metropolitan Theatres president David Corwin, as well as Polar Express producer/director Robert Zemeckis, were instrumental in making this special museum event possible. It was wonderful to see so many member families and other museum patrons in attendance. Museum Tree Follows A Long American Railroad Tradition - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) If you are traveling along Los Carneros Road during the holidays, be sure to watch for the Christmas tree in Goleta Depot’s upstairs window bay. The brightly decorated tree continues a long tradition, practiced all across America by station-agent families down through the years, of placing their Christmas tree in a prominent spot, where its special symbolism could be shared with passengers and crews on passing trains. The museum’s tree is also decorated with small white “Remembrance Stars,” each in memory of a museum friend who has passed away. Depot Day 2004 Report - (Vol. 24, No. 4 - Winter 2004-05) The museum is indebted to all of the people who helped to make the 22nd annual Depot Day on Sept. 26 a rousing success. Depot Day audiences appreciated the musical entertainment provided by the Monte Vista Elementary School chorus and, making its first museum appearance, the chorus from La Cumbre Jr. High School Performing Arts Dept. Both singing groups are directed by Radu Azdril.
The museum partnered with Goleta Library to bring another new attraction to Depot Day this year. Organized by Goleta Children’s Librarian Judy Savage, with assistance on the day from Leah Savage, “Library Junction” featured a make-your-own-caboose activity and a handout list of train-theme public-library titles for young readers. Barbecue cooks, servers and sales staff included John Hutchinson, Todd Littlehale, Samantha Matthew, Lorraine Saunders, Dondra Larkin, Lupe Garcia, Celina Garcia, Judy Blue, Shana Aires and Trevor Pontifex. The silent auction tables were the domain of a skilled crew of volunteers that included Kari Adams, Charlene Doty, Carol Matthew, Scott Matthew, and Diana Mina. Auction sales and receipts were handled by John Starr, with a special assist from Joan Hanna. The Goleta Short Line trains were operated by Gene Allen, Bob Burness and Jean-Guy Dube. Inspection-car rides on his Ventura County Railway “speeder” were given by Bob Mahan; handcar rides were hosted by Noel Langle. The HO-scale railroad switching “puzzle” returned to Depot Day for a second year to the delight of our visitors. Jim Felland, Michael Morden and John Ryan kept it running smoothly throughout the day. Admissions-table staffing was handled by Joan Rakowski, Bob Miesbauer, Dick Shelton and Jude Blau. Edee Brown and Rose Ann Hill were charged with sharing the former station agent’s living quarters – on the depot’s second floor – with Depot Day attendees. Agent responsibilities, including ride-ticket sales, were handled by Rich Thom and Ken Pontifex. The model railroad exhibit was operated by Richie Garcia and Robbie Wright. Thanks are due also to Pastor Paul Hoefer at Christ Lutheran Church who approved museum use of their field for overflow parking. A long list of other friends, businesses and organizations donated or loaned equipment, supplies and auction items for Depot Day. Depot Day Has Arrived - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Sunday, Sept. 26 will mark the 22nd annual Depot Day. The day-long museum event is a celebration of the long and colorful life of Goleta Depot, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the California Registry of Historical Resources and the roster of Santa Barbara County Historical Landmarks. Depot Day is the museum’s principal annual community fund-raiser. Events hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. A Donation Will Be Requested: All Depot Day attendees will be asked to make a $1 per person contribution in support of the museum and the continued preservation of the historical landmark. A Cornucopia Of Rides: Depot Day is the only opportunity during the year for visitors to enjoy rides on three different types of rail-cars. Inspection-car rides will be offered on Bob Mahan’s Ventura County Railway speeder. There will also be handcar rides and rides on the “Goleta Short Line” miniature train. All rides are $1 each on Depot Day. Silent Auction: The Depot Day silent auction has become a favorite venue for picking up valuable goods and services at great prices, while also helping to keep the railroad museum going and growing. The auction is a very important source of financial support for the museum. Please help by visiting the tables and placing bids on some of your favorite items. If you have new items, collectibles, or valuable services to donate to the auction, please give Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen a call in the museum office (964-3540). Special Guests: Operation Lifesaver will have a booth for Depot Day. Their representatives will be giving away fun souvenirs that promote safety around trains and railroads. They will also be available to distribute literature and answer questions about keeping safe near tracks, rail yards and railroad crossings. Musical Entertainment: Returning to Depot Day again in 2004 will be the wonderful young performers of the Monte Vista Elementary School Choir and SHOWSTOPPERS, under the direction of Radu Azdril. Depot Open House: Depot Day offers a rare opportunity to see the second-floor agent’s apartment, usually closed to visitors. Barbecue Offers Choice Of Tri-Tip or Chicken: At the Depot Day barbecue you will have your choice of chicken breast or sliced tri-tip, along with green salad, toasted french bread, and ranch beans. BBQ tickets are $8 ($5 for children under 12) on the day, but they may also be purchased in advance for $1 less per ticket. Advance tickets are available in the museum's Trackside Shop, (ticket purchases can be made by credit card), or from museum trustees and staff. All members are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. Other Refreshments: There will also be hot dogs, snacks, beverages and other refreshments available for purchase during Depot Day. Train-Hugger Films: Throughout Depot Day, the museum’s Gandy Dancer Theater will be featuring films on a wide range of rail topics of interest to all age levels. Circus Is Leaving Town: Depot Day will also be your last chance to enjoy Ken and Carolyn Weber’s HO-scale “K&C Famous Family Circus,” complete with operating circus train, on display in the museum’s model railroad exhibit room. Depot Day Has Arrived - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) In Memoriam - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) The museum lost a dear friend when Jack Cogan passed away July 30. Jack and his wife, Harriet, were among the very first contributors to the Goleta Depot Project. Jack was also one of the museum's first volunteers on the miniature-train ride, back in the late 1980s. He also served on the museum's Board of Trustees. A professional photographer and police officer with the City of Santa Barbara, Jack took a number of photographs at Goleta Depot in the late 1960s, which were published in the Goleta newspaper. Jack's photo of Al Singleton, the last Southern Pacific agent to make Goleta Depot his home, reappeared on the back cover of the paperback version of the book, Goleta Depot: The History of a Rural Railroad Station. The Cogans had been living in retirement in Santa Maria for a number of years before Jack’s death. He will be missed by all at the museum who knew him. Jr. Engineers Club Party - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) About 60 club members, family and friends attended the annual Junior Engineers Party, which was held Aug. 12 on the museum grounds. Everyone in attendance enjoyed the party cake, snacks, beverages and other refreshments, as well as the chance to get together and share a love of trains. The afternoon festivities also included 116 rides on the Goleta Short Line miniature train. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Bruce Winstrom (Goleta Electric Co.) is a new Milepost 100 member. New active members include Bill Berger, Wendy C. Hawksworth, Richard and Rita Rink, Chris and Jessica Russell and Walter N. Waldau. New Junior Engineers are Brendan Carlyle, Luke Gargano, Jaimeson Highfill, Spenser Pierce, Justin Rasmussen, Amanda Russell, Jacob Russell, Charlie Salazar, Shawn Southard, Andrew Stone, Robert Ulmer, Breckin Uwins, Ryan Mitchell Vance and Josh Zaragoza. Welcome to all of our new members! Weekend Free Train-Ride Days - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) If you miss Elks Day on Sept. 18, sponsored by Santa Barbara Elks Lodge No. 613, there will be another free-ride Saturday in November. The Nov. 13 free day will be sponsored by Bermant Development Co., which gave us another free-ride day back on Aug. 21. Museum visitors may ride the train as often they like over the 1:15-3:45 period during which the rides will be offered. For the safety of our visitors, all train riders must meet the 34-inch minimum-height requirement. Wish List - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Thanks to the generosity of Shirley Baird, the museum now has its own, brand-new barbecue for preparing foods for Depot Day and other museum events. In the past, the museum has always needed to rent or borrow barbecues for events. In recent years, this has become increasingly difficult. We are still looking for someone with the time and expertise to rebuild the Honda 5-hp engine that was recently removed from Locomotive No. 1316. Once this engine is rebuilt, we will have a backup in case of engine trouble with either of the locomotives. Wordsworths Adopt “Gray Engine” - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Museum members Jon and Beth Wordsworth of Atascadero have adopted Engine No. 2655. They had been planning to make a donation to the museum and when Jon saw the notice in the last Depot Dispatch he knew exactly where he wanted their gift to go. With the Wordsworths’ generous contribution, all of the Goleta Short Line engines and passenger cars now have sponsors. Visitor Center Project Advances - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Important progress on the Visitor Center construction has been made over the past two months. Most of the changes are a result of donations of materials and professional labor. The roof is now complete – due in large part to a donation from Steve Silva and his company, Native Roofing. The building has its own electricity now, too, thanks to Bruce Winstrom of Goleta Electric Co., together with a lot of preparatory work by David Chapman and his fellow volunteers. Some of the exterior paint has also been applied, in advance of the roofing and rain-gutter installation. Goleta Valley Paint (Steve and Colleen Ozab) is donating all of the paint for the project. When the doors arrive, the windows, doors and exterior siding can all be added. Delivery of the doors is expected mid-September. Volunteer News: Program Expands To Bay Area - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) The museum completed two successful test trips to Oakland on Aug. 10-11 and Aug. 23-24, the latest steps in the planned expansion of the museum’s Coast Starlight Interpretive Program to the Bay Area. The presentation, made over the train’s public-address system, included information and anecdotes about local and regional history, points-of-interest, natural history and things-to-do along the Coast Starlight route. This included such diverse topics as the Castroville Artichoke Festival; Channel Islands National Park; the Elkhorn Slough wildlife preserve; Moffett Field, once home to the world’s largest dirigible; and the community of Alviso, historic gateway to the city of San Jose. During the presentations, the museum team also gave out complimentary impressions of the unique Coast Starlight/Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail stamp (pictured at right) to children aboard the train, as well as any passengers carrying their National Park Service passports. Volunteers Train To Be Engineers - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) Three museum volunteers are at different stages in the process of becoming Goleta Short Line engineers. Samantha Matthew (left) has completed her training, Wally Waldau (center) has only one training session to go, while Rich Thom (right) began his instruction on Sept. 4. More Volunteers Urgently Needed On Train Ride - (Vol. 24, No. 3 - Fall 2004) There is a serious shortage of volunteers on the miniature train ride. Both weekday and weekend afternoon shifts are available. Please contact Thea Cremers in the museum office (964-3540) for more information. Visitor Center Nears Completion: $28,000 Needed To Finish The Job - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) Great progress has been made on the Visitor Center since the above-ground construction began on May 1. The wall framing was finished during that initial weekend, thanks to a strong volunteer turnout, and steady progress has been made since that time. Donations are needed now to complete the work so that the Visitor Center can open and begin serving museum guests. Only $28,000 remains to finish the $130,000 project. Donations of any size are welcome and always appreciated. All donations are acknowledged publicly both in the Depot Dispatch and on the museum web site. Gifts of $1,000 or more will be acknowledged on a plaque to be displayed permanently in the Visitor Center. If you would care to make a contribution, or add to a previous gift, please use the donation card included with this mailing. Special mention should be made of those who have given so much of their valuable time to help make the Visitor Center a reality. Topping the list is Tom Brown, whose contracting skills and devotion have kept the project on track and moving forward. Trustee Noel Langle has given long hours to the project every weekend (as well as a few weekdays), since the work began. David Chapman, another board member, has been crucial to the project in a number of ways, including bringing electric power and communications lines to the new building. Other project volunteers have included Erich Brown, Karl Burrelsman, James Gonzales, Joe Kleeburg, and Trustees Kip Kramer and Bruce Morden. Visit the museum web site (www.goletadepot.org\CapProj0.htm) to see photos of the work effort, floor and site plans, and listings of project donors and volunteers. The weekend of July 24-25 marks the 18th annual Steaming Summer, the South Coast Railroad Museum’s only two-day event. The event centerpiece are the miniature steam locomotives that make a once-a-year visit to the museum. Beautiful to behold, whether on display or under a full head of steam, these powerful little engines will pull tons of cars and passengers before the last ember burns out during a typical event weekend. This year’s equipment roster includes a wide assortment of locomotives, including Gene Allen’s 2-8-0 Consolidation and his 4-4-0 American. Ed Winnewisser will be making the trip down from Atascadero again with his 0-6-0 switch-engine and Dan O’Brien will bring his Allen Models 2-6-0 mogul up from Westminster. Making his first Steaming Summer appearance will be Ron Wilkerson, who plans to add a 10-Wheeler to the show. Ted Cheesman and his circus-train cars will be in attendance as well. The elephant car (complete with water-squirting elephants) and the musical calliope car with bubble-blowing bear have become two of Steaming Summer’s most fanciful diversions. The circus theme will carry over into the model-railroad exhibit, where Ken and Carolyn Weber’s “K&C Famous Family Circus” will fill a vacant lot near the Santa Barbara roundhouse. The HO-scale three-ring circus, including a big top and operating 20-car circus train, has been amusing Steaming Summer crowds since 1999. Daily admission to Steaming Summer is only $4 ($3.75 for members), which includes unlimited train and handcar rides (Riders must meet minimum-height requirements: 34” for the train; 48” for the handcar.). The admission charge applies to everyone, including those who choose not to ride. Infants and any others who are unable to ride the train will be admitted at no charge. For late arrivals, the admission price drops to $3 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 opportunity to ride on a steam-powered Goleta Short Line train! Museum Lends A Helping Hand - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) The railroad museum participated in the 3rd annual Optimist Adventure Camp, held this year on Wed., March 31. The program, held during the spring elementary-school break, focuses on children of working parents, mostly from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Goleta and Santa Barbara Westside. Participating youngsters were treated to free handcar rides, sponsored by Chuck Eckert, and rides on the miniature train, compliments of Fairview Car Wash. The event is organized by the Breakfast Optimist Club of Goleta. Jr. Engineers Club Party!! - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) The annual Junior Engineers Club Party will be held Thursday, Aug. 12 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). Each Junior Engineer may bring two guests (parent, sibling, relative or friend) without charge. There is a charge of $3 for any additional guests). “Track It Down At Your Library” - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) That’s the theme of the 2004 Summer Reading Program of the Santa Barbara Libraries, and the railroad museum will be playing an expanded role this year. The museum is co-sponsoring a special train-theme children’s program at Goleta Library on Thurs., July 22. The event, which begins at 10:30 a.m., will include a screening of the ever-popular “Big Trains, Little Trains” video, a choo-choo craft activity led by Goleta children’s librarian and museum volunteer Judy Savage, and a train show-and-tell. The event is free and open to the public. If you’d like to participate in the show-and-tell, please bring a favorite train car with a label bearing your name. American Pension Co. is again sponsoring the museum’s participation in the Summer Reading Program. All children who complete the program by reading a minimum of 15 books receive two free miniature-train rides at the museum, compliments of American Pension Co., as a reward for their reading achievement. Wish List - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) A $200 donation is needed to purchase a new barbecue, which will be used during Depot Day and other museum events. The BBQ units that we have borrowed in the past are no longer in usable condition. Tiger Color Donates Software - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) The museum has received a copy of ColorImpact 2, the premiere color-scheme sofware program for PC computers, from TigerColor.com. The donation was made possible by the generosity of TigerColor’s Trond Grøntoft. Bermant Development Co. and Santa Barbara Elks Lodge No. 613 each are sponsoring free-ride days during the second half of 2004. The Bermant company is underwriting two free Saturdays, on Aug. 21 and Nov. 13. “Elks Day” is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18. Museum visitors may ride as often they like over the 1:15-3:45 period during which the rides will be offered. For safety, all train riders must meet the 34-inch minimum-height requirement. The August and September free days fall on third Saturdays, during which free handcar rides are also offered at the museum, thanks to the sponsorship support of Fairview Car Wash. Handcar riders must be at least 48 inches tall. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) Mike Cicileo (Cicileo Landscapes, Inc.) is a new Milepost 100 member. Scott Kornahrens, Dennis and Carolyn Naiman and Parkie Parker are also new members. New Junior Engineers Club members include Loie Bonnet, Lance Brown, Scott Brown, Hac Brummett, Bobby Carroll, Martin Croshaw, Noah Harris, Zachary Harris, Thomas Huang, Timothy Huang, Nicolas Johanson, Dylan Thomas Kuske, Santiago Liera, Jacob Long, Noah Long, Ethan Parrish, Kendall Ruth and Theodore C. Schaefer. Welcome to all of our new members! The Goleta Lions Club has adopted the fourth and final passenger car of the Goleta Short Line miniature railroad. Car No. 3 has been fitted with two brass-finish plaques bearing the acknowledgment, “Sponsored by Goleta Lions.” The museum is still looking for a sponsor for locomotive No. 2655 (“The Gray Engine”). The cost is $200 for one year. If you are interested, please contact Museum Director Gary Coombs (gcoombs@goletadepot.org or by phone, 805-964-3540). New Engine For Locomotive 1316 - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) Thanks to the generosity of Ted Cheesman and Lavonne Sanchez and of the Lensander Family, there is a brand new 5.5-hp engine inside Locomotive No. 1316. The 16-year-old loco has been struggling of late but, with the new power plant in place, No. 1316 is now “purring like a kitten,” reports Museum Director Gary Coombs. Volunteer News - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) The museum has four new prospective guides-in-training for the Coast Starlight Interpretive Program. They are Wendy Hawksworth, Nancy Mouat, Vaughn (“Parkie”) Parker, and Rita Shaw. On June 8, the museum offered a Trails & Rails orientation and emergency-training class for volunteers in the Coast Starlight program. National Trails and Rails Coordinator Jim Miculka was one of the presenters, along with Museum Director Gary Coombs and David Smith, Interpretive Specialist with Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. The safety and emergency training was handled by Dave Albert, Manager of Emergency Preparedness in Amtrak’s Police & Security Dept. and Arthur Candenquist, Mr. Albert’s counterpart for the Eastern United States. Attending the training were the museum’s guide prospects; guides Jim Felland, Ed Leska, and Pat and Perry Lorentzen; and guide-in-training Thea Cremers. In other volunteer news, the museum will miss the services of Goleta Short Line engineers Glenn Anderson and Rick Marten. Both are moving from the area. Samantha Matthew is training to help in replacing them. Volunteers learning to be conductors include Scott Kornahrens, Sean Ryan and Manuel Velarde. Museum Leads Amtrak Youth Excursion - (Vol. 24, No. 2 - Summer 2004) On May 20, Museum Director Gary Coombs and Asst. Director Phyllis Olsen led a group of 25 children, parents and school staff from Judy Sims’ kindergarten class at Monte Vista Elementary School on a morning Goleta-to-Ventura roundtrip rail excursion. The group was able to take advantage of the special fares available through the Kids ‘N Trains program cosponsored by Amtrak and CalTrans. "Easter Bunny Express" Pulls In April 10 - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) The much anticipated Easter Bunny Express will be pulling into Goleta Depot on Saturday, April 10. You and your family and friends can hop aboard the museum’s most popular springtime event, which celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $3 per person, adult or child. Those holding the special egg-shaped ticket will be able to take part in a number of fun activities, including visits to Wabbit-Twacks Station (to ride the decorated train); Harvey’s House (for a cookie & lemonade donated by Country Catering Co.); Easter-Bunnyville (to meet the Easter Bunny and receive an egg surprise); Jack-Rabbit Junction (to enter a prize drawing); and What’s Up Dock (to collect another fun event souvenir). Tickets will be sold in advance at the museum. They will also be available during the event until 3:30 p.m. The decorating for the event is already underway, as the California poppies begin to bloom and the trees and scrubs around the grounds take on their bright springtime mantels. To this colorful mix, we will add some fanciful signs (“Support Rabbit Transit” and “Wabbit Twacks Crossing,” for example), to help make the grounds a special part of this annual event. For those wishing to enjoy lunch or an afternoon snack, our volunteers will be serving hot sandwiches, snacks and refreshments throughout the event. Don’t be left at the station! The 2004 Easter Bunny Express is sure to be another “hare-raising eggsperience” for the whole family (rain date: April 17). The museum will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 11. China’s Steam Railways Are Thom Lecture Topic - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Join international rail traveler Rich Thom on March 31 for a journey to China's remote Inner Mongolia, to ride and marvel at the trains of the Ji-Tong Line, the world's last mainline railroad to use only steam-powered locomotives. Known as the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region Provincial Railway, this 595-mile-long route offers the longest, regularly-scheduled steam passenger service on the planet. Take a steam-train ride through sparsely populated Inner Mongolia, rolling across grasslands, desert scrub, wind-blown sand dunes, and the spectacular Jingpeng Pass, where five horseshoe curves, seven tunnels, and six spindly viaducts were needed to conquer a range of barren and windswept mountains. Travel “hard class” with the natives and visit delightful villages, farms and pasture land in an isolated, rural part of northern China rarely explored by Westerners. Then, witness double-headed steam freight trains climbing Jingpeng Pass, this time from the comfort of a hotel window. Unless you visit the Ji-Tong Line personally, this program may be your last chance to see these steam “dragons” in action, since the locomotives are rapidly being eliminated, victims of China's aggressive modernization. The Chinese government wants to abolish all steam locomotives at least two years before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Rich Thom has lectured and made multimedia presentations about many of the exotic railways and places he has explored around the world. His articles have appeared in “Trains” and “Aboard” magazines, and in “International Railway Traveler,” where he is contributing editor. Thom's study of China's railways has taken him there ten times, logging about 20,000 miles of rail travel from the Russian border in the north to the South China Sea. A long-time resident of Santa Barbara, Thom is a former trustee of the South Coast Railroad Museum. He now lives in the Seattle area with his wife, Linda. He retired from Goleta's Raytheon Vision Systems in 1999. Rich Thom's program will be at 7 p.m. at Goleta Public Library, 500 North Fairview Ave., Goleta. Admission is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. Toy Trains & Teddy Bears Display Was A Holiday-Season Treat - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Special thanks are extended to all who shared keepsakes during the annual Toy Trains & Teddy Bears! exhibition. They included Junior Engineers Ian Jimenez, Chris Kayda and Kelly Reynolds, and volunteers, members and friends Eugene Allen, Edee Brown, Ted Cheesman, Jean-Guy Dubé, Ed Leska and Mike Leska. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) George and Vivian Obern are new Life members. New members of the Junior Engineers Club are Max Cunningham, Jackson Cunningham, Michael Hartley, Jonathan Hartley, Sean Hopkins, Grant Hopkins, David McInnes, Carwyn Melson, Emily Peterson, Ryan Wiener, Samantha Wiener, Michael Wiener and Dylan Worth. Special greetings to all of the museum’s new members.
Director Shares Depot History, Museum Programs & Plans - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Museum Director Gary Coombs made a Feb. 19 presentation before the Woman’s Service Club of Goleta. Programs topics included Goleta Depot’s history and architecture, and how the building served both the railroad and the community. The talk also covered museum programs, events and plans for the future. Dr. Coombs also spoke to the Goleta Rotary Club on Nov. 25. Coombs will be making a presentation to the Goleta Lions Club on March 16 and to the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime on March 30. Depot Service Takes Many Forms - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Historically, Goleta Depot served both the railroad and the community in many different ways – as a passenger station, handling freight and Railway Express business, delivering train orders, and providing the town with its Western Union telegraph office. Continuing that long tradition of service, the depot and museum grounds recently served as the site for a Calif. Dept. of Justice course on “Dignitary Security.” About 25 law enforcement officers from throughout the state took part in the Nov. 20-21 training course, in which a visit to a popular public attraction by a political dignitary was simulated. Students in the course took part in a variety of dignitary-protection drills. Goleta Depot and grounds have served in this capacity a number of times over the past 10-15 years.
The museum’s 23rd annual Spring Fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 15. The event will include free miniature train and handcar rides for all museum visitors. We are now recruiting volunteers to help with the fundraising. Each year, this event covers about 15% of the museum’s annual operating costs. Please support the spring fundraiser with your tax-deductible donation ... and enjoy the free rides on May 15! Please Support Museum Sponsors - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Included with this member mailing is a “Community Commitment Donation Card” from Fairview Car Wash. This locally-owned Goleta business has been one of the museum’s most loyal and generous supporters, including their renewed sponsorship of free miniature-train rides every Wednesday and free handcar rides on the third Saturday of every month. Thanks for Your Support of Super Saturday VIII - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) The 8th Annual Super Saturday!, held Jan. 31, would not have been possible without the generous support of the 2004 event sponsors. They included American Pension Co; Cold Spring Tavern; Michael Gartzke, C.P.A.; “Dr J” Neel, Optometrist; Ken Pontifex Family; Bruce and Andrea Morden Family; Ramada Limited; Santa Barbara Hobbies; State Farm Insurance (Ed Attlesey & Tammy Dobrotin, Agents); Peter Tiersma; and Western Welding. This Issue Sponsored By Wilson Printing - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Morden Will Lead Museum Board - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) Bruce Morden has been elected president of the board of trustees. Bruce has served on the board since 2001. He is also one of the museum’s most active volunteers, putting in regular turns as a Coast Starlight guide, depot agent, and member of the handcar and miniature-train crews. It is a rare museum event that Bruce is not on hand – to help with the preparations and clean up, as well as volunteering during the festivities, themselves. A Native Californian, Bruce was raised in West Los Angeles. He attended UC San Diego, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He worked for 31 years with the State of Calif. Dept. of Health Services as a food and drug investigator, before retiring in 2003. Bruce lives in Carpinteria with his wife, Andrea, and their two children, daughter Miranda, a sophomore at UCSB and son Michael, also in his second year, at Carpinteria High School. Bruce Morden grew up in a home in which one room was devoted to trains. His own interest in railroading began with his first Lionel train set, in the 1950s. He is a member of the South Coast Society of Model Engineers, the National Model Railroad Association, and the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society. He has published articles on railroad subjects in Layout Design Journal. When Bruce isn’t playing with trains, he and Andrea enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including backpacking, mountain climbing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and bicycling. They also like to visit museums and historic places. Morden takes the reins from David Chapman, who served as president in 2002-03. Other officers elected for 2004 include Richard B. Shelton, vice-president and president-elect, and Noel Langle, secretary and treasurer. Volunteer News - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) On Feb. 16, Thea Cremers and Pat Weeks successfully completed their onboard auditions to become guides aboard the Coast Starlight. The only step that Pat and Thea have yet to complete is the national Trails & Rails orientation and safety training, which will be conducted later this spring by National Park Service and Amtrak personnel. Congratulations to Pat and Thea on their training progress! Construction Will Begin Soon; Skilled Volunteers Needed - (Vol. 24, No. 1 - Spring 2004) The museum is gearing up to take the next major step toward the realization of the new Visitor Center and store. Construction of the building framing and roof will begin in late April or early May, according to David Chapman, chairman of the museum’s Planning Committee. Volunteers are now being recruited for this phase of the Visitor Center project, which is expected to take one or two weekends to complete. Persons with work experience in the following areas are needed: construction framing, roofing, finish construction and electrician. All volunteers will need to provide their own tools. If you would like to play a role in this important addition to the museum, please contact Museum Director Gary Coombs (by phone: 964-3540 or e-mail: gcoombs@goletadepot.org). Please include a phone number and brief description of your work experience. Copyright © 2005 by Institute for American Research
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