National Train Day Events and Amtrak Trips - May 8th
SLO, Guadalupe and Paso Robles

April 20, 2010 Special Events in San Luis Obispo & Guadalupe

Central Coast Railroad Festival to Coordinate Excursions from Guadalupe and Paso Robles to SLO

The Central Coast will be alive with railroad events on Saturday, May 8th, in celebration of the 3rd Annual National Train Day. Local organizers, area rail organizations and historical societies have put together free events in San Luis Obispo and Guadalupe. In addition, the Central Coast Railroad Festival will coordinate two excursions on Amtrak from Guadalupe and Paso Robles to SLO. These regional activities will compliment celebratory events that Amtrak and local train enthusiasts will be presenting at numerous locations across the USA that day.



In Guadalupe The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, the Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society and the City of Guadalupe will host a special National Train Day open house at the historical SMVRR 210 caboose and Amtrak Platform at 330 Guadalupe Street. The SMVRR 210 Caboose which is owned by the Guadalupe Chamber of Commerce will be open for the first time in years for public tours. There will also be docents on hand to talk about local rail history and the importance of rail service to our area. A model train display will be presented by the San Luis Obispo Model Railroad Association. The Mud Skippers Dixieland Band will perform. A proclamation by Mayor Lupe Alvarez is being planned. Historical activities, rail literature and classic photos will educate attendees. Amtrak will provide gifts for the kids. The festivities will take place from 11am - 3pm.

In San Luis Obispo the NTD event will take place from 12-4pm at the Amtrak Station at 1011 Railroad Avenue. The Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band will be performing, there will be a rail photo display and the SLO Model Railroad Association will offer hands on working model trains. The President of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum will lead a tour of the Historic Railroad District at approximately 1:00pm. The lead docent from the Amtrak Station Hosts organization will also be on hand to facilitate passengers and answer questions. Free refreshments will be available as well as Amtrak gifts for the kids!

The Central Coast Railroad Festival is helping with the local promotions for NTD and is also coordinating two Amtrak excursions that day:

1) An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trip on May 8th will allow Guadalupe NTD event attendees to travel to San Luis Obispo for the NTD activities at the SLO Amtrak Station! The Surfliner #799 departs Guadalupe at 12:09pm and arrives in SLO at 12:45pm. After spending an hour a the SLO station fans will return on Surfliner #792 which departs SLO at 2:00pm and arrives back in Guadalupe at 2:36pm. Rail fans will need to purchase their tickets directly from Amtrak for this trip. The Guadalupe Historical Society has a limited number of free Amtrak Companion Fare Coupons that can be used for half price adult round trips that day! Pick them up at the Historical Society Museum during its regular hours: Saturdays and Sundays - 1:00-3:00pm. (1005 Guadalupe Street/Highway 1 or 805-343-5901) Coupons must be redeemed in advance at the SLO or Santa Barbara Stations. Coupons are also good for other Surfliner rides through June 15th! The mid day Surfliner from Guadalupe to SLO accommodates approximately 200 riders. The Mud Skippers Dixieland Band will play on the train if approval can be obtained from Amtrak!

2) An Amtrak Group Trip has been planned by the Central Coast Railroad Festival for a round trip that day between the Amtrak Stations in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. This trip is limited to 20 rail fans and reservations must be made and paid for well in advance at the Wine Wrangler (805-238-5700) located in the Amtrak Station at 800 Pine Street in Paso Robles. Excursion tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children up to 15 years of age. The Amtrak Bus #4798 departs the Paso Robles Amtrak Station at 12:50 pm and arrives in SLO at 1:45pm. After spending time at the SLO station and Historical Railroad District fans will return on Coast Starlight #14 which departs SLO at 3:43pm and arrives back in Paso Robles at 4:45pm. This train ride up the Cuesta Grade is one of the most interesting and historically significant portions along the coastal line. The Wine Wrangler and the City of Paso Robles are unable to host NTD events this year at the station due to parking lot and sidewalk construction. National Train Day activities will again take place at the Paso Robles Amtrak Station in 2011.

Tickets for these schedules on May 8th or any other day are available directly from Amtrak: www.Amtrak.com or 800-USA-RAIL or at a Station Kiosk. Kids ride Amtrak for half price and seniors get a discount! Travelers need to buy tickets at least 3 days in advance to access discounts.

Many more railroad events and excursions will take place during the 2nd Annual Central Coast Railroad Festival to be held October 7-11, 2010. For more information on the Festival see: www.ccrrf.com or call 805-773-4173.

Flier for Guadalupe activities.