San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Announces Grand Opening for October 12, 2013

Long Anticipated Opening to Take Place at the Museum's New Home in the Historic SLO Freight House

March 29, 2013

The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum has set its official Grand Opening festivities and ceremonies for October 12, 2013. This new museum is located in and around the circa 1894 Southern Pacific freight house in the Historic Railroad District in San Luis Obispo, California. The Museum's focus will be on the rail history of the California Central Coast with major exhibits telling the story of the Pacific Coast Railway and the Southern Pacific Railroad as they helped in the development of San Luis Obispo County and California.

Railroad fans, history buffs and fun seekers are invited to join these festivities in early October which will be the culmination of a twenty year collaboration between the nonprofit San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum and the building owner, the City of San Luis Obispo. The Grand Opening activities will include dedications, ceremonies, operating model railroads and railroad motor cars, historical displays, music, children's activities, lectures and tours. Century old railroad cars will be on display in front of the museum as well as on the display track located immediately behind the Museum. The Grand Opening will be the focal point of the 5th Annual Central Coast Railroad Festival which runs October 10-14 at numerous locations, throughout the City and County of San Luis Obispo. (www.ccrrf.com)



The freight house sits trackside next to the busy Union Pacific main line which is utilized by Amtrak's Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner as well as by UP freight traffic. The Museum is located several hundred yards south of the San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station in the heart of the San Luis Obispo Historic Railroad District. The exterior of the building has been under renovation for the past decade and the final touches are now being put on the interior. Along with exterior exhibits the interior will feature a museum quality model railroad display, permanent and rotating exhibits, meeting space, a general store and office space. Funds to complete this large project have come from the SLORRM, the City of San Luis Obispo, numerous individuals and clubs as well as the Ludwick Family Foundation and Hind Foundation. San Luis Obispo is truly a Train Town USA and was designated as such by Union Pacific Railroad in 2012. The Museum is located at 1940 Santa Barbara Street in San Luis Obispo, California.

The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum was founded as a regional non-profit educational museum for the public benefit. Its mission is to preserve the railroad history of California and the Central Coast by collecting, restoring and displaying artifacts as well as operating historic railroad equipment. Museum members have been working for well over a decade with SLO City employees to refurbish the new museum home in the historic Southern Pacific freight house. The Museum will soon be a community treasure and the organization continues to seek broad support, funding and new members to achieve its future goals. Museum members have conducted fund raising events for years around the community at railroad related locations including at the Santa Margarita Ranch which is home to the narrow gauge Pacific Coast Railroad Co. The SLORRM's next fundraiser will occur on April 14th at the Bittercreek Western Railroad where attendees can ride behind miniature live steam locomotives. The Museum will also offer a free sneak peek open house at the freight house on National Train Day on May 11th.

Complete Museum history and upcoming event information is available on the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum's web site: www.slorrm.com. Messages can be left for museum members at 805-548-1894.

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Contact:
Aron Kahn, Events & Promotions Chair
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
805-550-3250
info@slorrm.com

or

Curtis Reinhardt, Publicity Committee
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum
805-773-4173
webmaster@ccrrf.com

Attached Photo and Logo:
SLORRM logo
SLORRM Freight House Event during 2012 Central Coast Railroad Festival
Photo Credit: Jamie Foster Photography