David Holt


Silver Splendor

Press Release

Central Coast Railroad Festival Features Vintage Excursions and Special Concert/Film Events in Historic Venues


For Immediate Release
September 17, 2013

Tickets Now on Sale for Special Concerts, Film Screening and Vintage Rail Trips


During the Central Coast Railroad Festival Set in San Luis Obispo County, CA


Events Take Place October 10th to 13th in Numerous Historic Venues


The Fifth Annual Central Coast Railroad Festival, set for October 10-13, 2013, in the heart of the California Central Coast, will focus on special concert and film events, vintage rail excursions, the Grand Opening of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum and model railroading of all types. Activities will take place at numerous railroad, historical and educational locations throughout San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara Counties. The Central Coast Railroad Festival is designed to please both casual train buffs and avid rail fans as well as delight tourists and locals of all ages. Many Festival events will be free and all will be fun and very family friendly. Festival attendees will also be able to explore the area's beaches, wineries, Missions, quaint downtowns and other special attractions.

For the first time during the CCRRF, major media personalities from the railroad world have been selected to make special appearances during the Festival. David Holt, a Grammy Award winning musician and media personality, and Robert C. Van Camp, the creator and producer of the Emmy-Award Winning Public Television series, "Great Scenic Railway Journeys" will present special programs and make personal appearances during three days of the Central Coast Railroad Festival. On October 10th, fans will be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo on the vintage Silver Splendor vista dome car with David and Robert. On October 11th and 12th the Festival will feature these stars in two concerts and film events in the historical Fremont Theatre and Masonic Lodge in downtown San Luis Obispo.

The Festival will also feature many other great musicians throughout the weekend at free events. Those performers are the Central Coast Brass, BanjerDan the Banjo Man, railroad troubadour Don Lampson, Charlie Kleemann, Dorian Michael and Frankie Fuchs.

The Festival will offer Five Rail Excursions during the weekend. On Thursday, October 10th, three excursion options will be offered on the vintage Silver Splendor vista dome car between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. In the morning rail fans can join David Holt and Robert Van Camp on the journey from LA to San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo area residents can jump on the Silver Splendor as it heads back south to Santa Barbara in the early afternoon and return on the Pacific Surfliner in the early evening. Rail fans can also travel all the way back from SLO to LA on the Silver Splendor. These vintage dome car trips will feature special meals, gifts and Pomar Junction Wines. On Saturday, October 12th, a family excursion is planned between Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo and on Sunday, October 13th, a Wine Rail Excursion will features a ride over the historic and scenic Cuesta Grade on the Coast Starlight between Paso Robles and SLO.

This year's Festival will not only offer railroad art at the museums but will sponsor its first ever railroad themed art show and competition entitled "Shiny Rails - 135 Years of Railroads on the Central Coast." This show will happen throughout the month of October at the Art Central Art Supply Shop and Gallery in San Luis Obispo. Railroad photographers, painters and modelers are encouraged to submit pieces for display and sale. An artists reception will take place early evening on October 12th when the Peoples' Choice winners will be announced. [Art show details and registration.] This year too a Children's Coloring Contest will be sponsored by the SLO Library and the Central Coast Family magazine. Awards will be announced at noon on Oct. 12th at the SLO library.

The festival is proud to welcome back Amtrak, Rabobank Union Pacific and the Santa Maria Valley Railroad as the 2013 major festival sponsors. The City of San Luis Obispo and its Tourist Business Improvement District are the Festival's major promotional supporters. KCOY and FOX11 are the television media sponsor for the Festival.

Further information, online tickets and details on the Central Coast Railroad Festival, including the developing schedule of events, promotional videos, a list of participating organizations and an email notification sign up, can be found at www.ccrrf.com Festival staffers can be reached at 805-773-4173.

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Attached:
David Holt photo (jpg)
CCRRF Schedule (doc)
Flyer for David & Robert's appearances (pdf)
Silver Splendor Vista Dome Car (jpg)
More photos available upon request.

For updated Festival information and schedule:
http://ccrrf.com/
Also on Facebook.

Featured Participants:
David Holt: http://www.davidholt.com/
Robert Van Camp - Great Scenic Railway Journeys: http://gsrj.com/
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum: http://slorrm.com/

Sponsors:
http://www.rabobank.com/content/
http://www.amtrak.com/home
http://www.smvrr.com/
http://www.up.com/

Contact:
Curtis Reinhardt, Director
Central Coast Railroad Festival
805-773-4173
webmaster@ccrrf.com