Saturday at the SLO Freight Depot

The largest single event during the Festival will be the Rail Celebration at the recently restored Freight House just south of the Amtrak Station. This October 10th event will be produced by the Central Coast Railroad Festival and the SLO Railroad Museum (SLORRM) organizations. The SLORRM has been working in partnership with the city for several years now to complete the historical Freight House in order to start using that facility as the official home and public museum for the SLORRM. This will be the first public use of the facility since the exterior has been completed. The Railroad Museum fellows will have various types of rolling stock on display on their recently completed display track. (velocipeds, hand cars and speeders) Other activities will include: Public Art Dedication, Golden Spike Ceremony, History Walks and lectures around the Freight House area, Emily Street Yard viewing (storage area for the SLORRM) and a possible Operation Life Saver presentation. The event will also feature sponsor and rail related booths as well as music and local food vendors. We plan to involve the Historic Railroad District merchants with Rail Celebration. SLO Mayor Dave Romero and several other dignitaries are scheduled to be in attendance and take part in the ceremonies

Pictures from the event...

Tentative Schedule for October 10th:

10:00 Open event

11:00 ­History walks (hourly)

11:00 The MudSkippers will provide Dixieland and jazz music during lunch provided by the Del Monte Cafe, by Scotti Italian Sandwiches and Cafe Roma. Until 3pm.

12:10 Ceremonial driving of the Golden Spike to commemorate the completion of the SLORRM Display Track in front of the Freight House

12:45 ­Northbound Surfliner Arrives

1:00 to 1:45 Public viewing of the Overland Trail private railcar (attached to the Pacific Surfliner)

1:00 ­­Dedication of "ICONS OF AN ERA", a public art commission completed by Jim Trask in 2006, which depicts several significant dates of influential railway history in San Luis Obispo. Speakers at this dedication will include SLO City Mayor Dave Romero, SLO City Parks & Recreation Director Betsy Kiser and the artist Jim Trask. The San Luis Obispo Art In Public Places program is proud that it is ranked in the top ten US cities having the best Public Art Program. Visual Arts in Public Places.

2:00 ­Southbound Surfliner departs

3:07 Southbound Starlight arrives

3:30 ­Northbound Starlight arrives

4:00 ­Close event

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