Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "trains"

Railroad Museum Celebrates Black History Month By Exploring the Role of Railroads in African American History on February 18

2012-01-30T19:04:28Z

In celebration of Black History Month, the California State Railroad Museum is proud to present two special guest presentations and book signing opportunities with Professor Theodore Kornweibel, Jr., author of Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey. After 30 years of research and work in the field of black history, Kornweibel will share his thoughts and findings during two special illustrated presentations on Saturday, February 18, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., each to be followed by book signing opportunities.

His photographic book is a captivating, illustrated tour of the black railroad experience from slavery to Amtrak. It includes nearly 200 compelling images, many of which have never before been published. In the book, Kornweibel examines how the history of American railroads is deeply intertwined with African American history. This industry, America’s first “big business,” provided industrial jobs for blacks who were instrumental in the daily operation and success of America’s railroads.

While there is no cost to attend these special presentations, regular Museum admission fees apply. The book Railroads in the African American Experience: A Photographic Journey is also available for purchase in the Museum Store.

In addition, Kornweibel has generously donated his research notes from his book to the Museum which can now be accessed through the Museum Library. For more information about this special presentation, accessing information from the Museum Library or about other activities, events and exhibits on display at the Museum, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Special Note: In cooperation with the Museum, there will be an additional opportunity to meet Kornweibel at Underground Books, 2814 35th Street in Sacramento, on Friday evening, February 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. At this venue, guests can talk with Kornweibel informally, purchase his book and have it signed by the author.

About the California State Railroad Museum
Operated by California State Parks with financial assistance from the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the California State Railroad Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the complex of facilities includes the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum plus the reconstructed Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Freight Depot, 1849 Eagle Theatre, and Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill commercial buildings in Old Sacramento. For 24-hour information, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including the California State Railroad Museum.

City supports high speed rail for the north state

2011-12-07T04:49:30Z

The city of Sacramento responded to the recently released California High Speed Rail Authority business plan with a letter of support – and a couple of suggestions for the authority to consider as the project develops.

City Councilman Steve Cohn said Tuesday that the city is in support of the project overall, but Cohn and the council want to emphasize two points: recognition that the high-speed rail project must be phased in, and funding should also upgrade existing connecting infrastructure.

“It can’t all be built at once,” Cohn said at the Law and Legislation Committee meeting at City Hall Tuesday. “The revised business plan does a more realistic job of explaining this phasing process (than the initial plan).”

The new business plan, released Nov. 1 to update the 2009 plan, outlines a “building block” approach to connecting the state’s major northern and southern California population centers with high-speed trains.

By building the project incrementally, the plan states, it allows for completion in stages as additional funding is identified.

Cohn said that, from the city of Sacramento’s standpoint, the 20-year project will need to connect well to local and regional transit services as it unfolds.

Some inter-city connectors will need to be upgraded and expanded – and that will not be cheap, Cohn said.

“So far, only $950 million of the original (Proposition 1A) initiative has been set aside for inter-city connections,” Cohn said. “We think that roughly 10 percent of total spending on high speed rail should go into these inter-city connections.”

With an estimated total cost of nearly $98 billion, that means $10 billion over the life of the project directed at essential infrastructure, Cohn said.

Cohn said that upgrades to inter-city connectors and existing rail lines will go a long way to increasing the overall efficiency of rail travel even before high-speed rail is fully realized in the state.

“If we invest money in the tracks and signal equipment between here and the Bay Area,” Cohn said, “We can reach the Bay Area in less than an hour with the exact trains we already have. Those trains are capable of going over 100 miles per hour. The problem isn’t the train, it’s in the track and signaling equipment.”

Cohn said the infrastructure work needs to be completed alongside the high-speed rail project so that, when everything is connected, it will create a smooth transition.

California voters approved $9 billion of public funding for the proposed high-speed rail project with Proposition 1A in 2008. Additional funding for the project will come from both federal and private dollars, according to the California High Speed Rail Authority.

The rail project is planned to ultimately connect Sacramento to San Diego via 800 miles of track, allowing upwards of 44 million riders annually to travel quickly from place to place.

The initial 130-mile stretch is slated to be built in the Central Valley at a cost of approximately $6 billion – including $3.3 billion in federal funds and $2.7 from state funds.

The estimated total cost of the first phase of the high-speed rail project, which would connect the Los Angeles basin to the San Francisco Bay Area, is $98.1 billion.

According to Lance Simmens, deputy director of communications for the high speed rail authority, construction on the initial segment – the “backbone” of the rail line – should start in late 2012.

The first segment of the rail project will extend from just north of Fresno to North of Bakersfield, and construction is expected to take approximately five years to complete. Work to connect to Sacramento would begin in 2026.

“The backbone (segment of the project) will be available for Amtrak San Joaquin (passenger rail) service,” Simmens said, “but it will not be high-speed rail yet.”

Trains on the initial segment will travel at normal speeds – typically between 80 to 100 miles per hour, Simmens said. True high speed rail is capable of speeds up to 220 miles per hour.

Simmens said that further construction will allow for faster speeds.

“We appreciate that the high speed rail authority business plan acknowledges the need for inter-city upgrades,” Cohn said. “Sacramento shouldn’t have to wait until 2040 to benefit from high-speed rail. We should be benefiting all along the way.”

The letter of support from the city of Sacramento will be sent to the high speed rail authority within the next week.

Read the California High Speed Rail Authority draft business plan HERE.

Explore an interactive map of the proposed high speed rail routes HERE.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Time for the Polar Express

2011-12-02T19:27:34Z

It’s Polar Express time again in Old Sacramento.

If you have been anywhere near Old Sacramento lately, you may have been surprised to see children of all ages roaming the streets dressed in their pajamas. It’s the annual running of the Polar Express, in Old Sacramento.

Every year, the volunteer docents of the State Railroad Museum conduct special one-hour train rides from Old Sacramento down the river side tracks to the North Pole. Along the way, songs are sung, hot cocoa is served, and each passenger gets a small gift from Santa. It’s a perennial treat, and with only 19,000 tickets available, they sell out in a few hours. So, even though you can’t get tickets to ride the train, it’s worth a visit to Old Sacramento to see all the kids dressed in jammies.

Amtrak now offers free Wi-Fi on Capitol Corridor trains

2011-11-30T00:38:46Z

Travelers on Amtrak riding through the Capitol Corridor will now have Wi-Fi access on board the trains – and it’s free.

Amtrak launched the new service Monday to coincide with “Cyber Monday,” the busiest Internet holiday shopping day of the year, according to a press release from Amtrak.

The Capitol Corridor is an intercity passenger train system that provides rail service along a 170-mile rail corridor to 16 stations in eight counties, including Placer, Sacramento and Yolo.

The route extends from Auburn to San Jose, and includes stops in Rocklin, Roseville, Davis, Richmond and Berkeley and other cities.

Passengers can connect to the Wi-Fi service onboard the trains through any laptop or other portable device that is Wi-Fi enabled.

For commuters, such as Sacramento lobbyist Jack Bean, the new service will make working while traveling more convenient.

“I commute every day from the Bay Area so this will definitely benefit me,” Bean, 53, said Tuesday.

Bean said he’s looking forward to having a single, reliable network connection while on the train.

“There are alternate (wireless) connections (available),” Bean said, “but you lose it, and you get it, and you lose it in each area – so this will be nice.”

According to the Amtrak website, the service is not password protected, and travelers only need to connect to the "AmtrakConnectStation” network on their wireless devices to use it.

California state passenger rail agencies funded the implementation of Wi-Fi by reinvesting cost savings from prior completed rail projects, according to the press release.

“This has been the number one request from passengers since about 2003,” Luna Salavar, spokeswoman for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Agency, said Tuesday.

“We tried several different techniques (to provide the service) in the past,” Salavar said, “but this was the first one that we feel will be successful in providing free Wi-Fi to our customers.”

The biggest challenge to connectivity on trains is the limited bandwidth available through third-party cellular data networks along many routes.

Salavar said that the AmtrakConnect service is designed to take advantage of technology improvements such as faster 4G speeds, as they become available along rail routes.

Sarah Tarlano, a college student headed to San Francisco from Penn Valley Tuesday – with her laptop in tow – said she read about the new service online.

“I’ll probably be checking email, using Facebook or reading the news (on the train),” said Tarlano, 19.

Although she usually likes to download media files while she travels, Tarlano said that the limited bandwith and file size restrictions won’t stop her from using the new service.

“I’ll do other things, so that’s ok,” Tarlano said. “(Wi-Fi) will still be good to have.”

Network performance on the trains will vary as the train travels, depending on the proximity of cell towers and strength of wireless signals along the route, Salavar said Tuesday.

The Wi-Fi service also blocks access to streaming video and restricts file downloads larger than 10 MB because of limited bandwidth on board. Passengers will want to download any large files before boarding the train.

The CCJPA was able to contract with Wi-Fi vendor Nomad Digital to use their wireless network technology and cellular towers for service, according to Salavar.

Amtrak is part of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Agency which delivers transit service in coordination with the Union Pacific Railroad and Caltrans.

Wi-Fi service is already available on Amtrak high-speed express trains along 12 East Coast routes and on the Amtrak Cascades rail service in the Pacific Northwest.

Melissa Corker is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Small Train Holiday

2011-11-26T03:05:01Z

There’s something about toy trains that captures the imagination of adults and children alike. This year’s “Small Train Holiday” at the California State Railroad Museum is drawing a steady stream of wide-eyed admirers to its special displays of toy and model trains over Thanksgiving weekend.

Grown-ups and kids clustered around the working train displays run by avid toy train operators. Joe Montgomery’s train layout includes treasured trains from his youth. When he was a boy, his father traded several bushels of corn to a store-owner so that his son could have a pre-1950s Marx electric train. Montgomery played with the set for years until called into the armed services, and now he comes every year to the Small Train Holiday to share his love of trains.

Eight-year-old Nathan is a budding engineer, with a very practical bent. He constructed an entire Santa’s village out of Legos, complete with working trains, Santa’s workshop and a lunchroom and bathroom for the elves. Nathan, his grandma and mother were happy to point out the set’s features and to challenge folks to find the 15 Santas hidden in the layouts hosted by the Sacramento Lego Fan Club.

David Thomsen of the Toy Train Operating Society added movement to his village scene with sledders, skiers and a chugging train filled with miniature gift boxes. Another operator’s layout mesmerized children as they watched conveyor belts unload barrels of broccoli and brussels sprouts and load up on logs.

The event also included storytelling with Mrs. Claus, handcar rides, photos with Santa, a 1957 short film set to instrumental music titled “Toccata for Toy Trains” and a scavenger hunt.

Museum director Paul Hammond says the museum has been offering Small Train Holiday for about 15 years. This year’s event runs through Saturday.

Railroad Museum to Showcase a “Small Train Holiday” on 11/25 & 26!

2011-11-18T16:43:55Z

Widely known as North America’s most popular railroad museum, the California State Railroad Museum has exciting plans to dazzle, delight and engage post-Thanksgiving visitors with a special “Small Train Holiday” focus on November 25 and 26. Expanded holiday offerings inside the Museum include fun interpretive handcar rides, crowd pleasing scale models and toy train displays, story time with Mrs. Claus, period-appropriate holiday decor and much more.

In addition to these new activities, the “Small Train Holiday” focus includes other fun favorites such as amazing scale models and toy train layouts on display throughout the Museum, a Polar Express model train running on the “Small Wonders” toy train layout, a discovery-filled scavenger hunt and even a whimsical Toy Train movie where the viewer’s eye-level perspective provides a unique experience that explores the magical world of vintage toy trains.

With all the fun and festive activities happening inside the Museum, there’s plenty to do outdoors in Old Sacramento State Historic Park as well. Of course, Santa Claus will be available in the Eagle Theatre from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for those interested in visiting with him; professional photo opportunities are also available. And, the dazzling Old Sacramento Theatre of Lights will brighten the evening skies with a nightly symphony of lights, sounds and visual effects at 6:15 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. beginning Thursday and continuing through Sunday.

All “Small Train Holiday” activities happening inside the California State Railroad Museum are included with the cost of admission. More information about events, exhibits and activities happening at the California State Railroad Museum is available at www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org.

Operated by California State Parks with assistance from the nonprofit CSRM Foundation, the California State Railroad Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most-visited railroad museum, the complex of facilities includes the 100,000-sq. ft. Railroad History Museum plus the reconstructed Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Freight Depot, 1849 Eagle Theatre, and Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill buildings in Old Sacramento. 24-hour info: (916) 445-6645 or www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

Attention Toy Train & Scale Model Railroad Enthusiasts!

2011-10-21T19:17:37Z

To the delight of rail enthusiasts of all ages, the California State Railroad Museum will debut a new exhibit titled “Common Diversions: Toy Trains and Scale Model Railroads” on November 3, 2011. While the items on special display will all be miniature in size, the goal of the exhibit is to clearly distinguish the big differences between scale models and toy trains, both of which have unique characteristics and avid collectors.

In addition to the Railroad Museum’s popular “Small Wonders: The Magic of Toy Trains” exhibit and in contrast to the impressive collection of 21 full-size meticulously restored locomotives and cars on display throughout the Museum, visitors will soon have a unique opportunity to learn more about the decidedly smaller end of the spectrum. As guests will learn, the difference between model trains and toy trains has to do with scale.

“Model trains are built to scale with a specific size relationship between the model and its real life prototype,” explained the late Thomas W. Sefton in a descriptive publication titled Sefton American Collections. “Toy trains, in contrast, are not made to scale. They are crafted with color and imagination rather than an attempt at perfect realism.” (Mr. Sefton collected more than 7,000 toy trains during his lifetime; many are displayed at the Museum today in the “Small Wonders” exhibit.)

Toy trains are miniature versions of their bigger counterparts that were designed as toys for children. Today, many participants in this hobby are interested in building layouts or collecting treasured playthings. One popular line of accessories, “Plasticville,” is a line of snap-together toys introduced the late 1940s and both an early village scene and a rural scene -- complete with cars, people and animals -- will be on display as part of the exhibit. Conversely, model railroad enthusiasts tend to be keenly focused on the accuracy of virtually all details of their models. Visitors will see and appreciate a selection of brass scale model locomotives and cars, showcased on mirrored pedestals that accentuate their jewel-like qualities and intricate details.

“Common Diversions: Toy Trains and Scale Model Railroads” will remain on special display in the Museum’s Lobby Gallery through September 14, 2012. For more information about “Common Diversions,” visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

“Spookomotive” Train to Haunt Old Sacramento in October

2011-09-15T21:13:07Z

All aboard for Halloween fun! For three weekends beginning in mid-October, the California State Railroad Museum will once again offer engaging and entertaining rides aboard its popular “Spookomotive” train this fall season. “Spookomotive” trains operate Saturdays and Sundays beginning the weekend of October 15-16 and continuing the weekends of October 22-23 and October 29-30.

For these three weekends only, “Spookomotive” trains depart on-the-hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., departing at the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot at Front and “K” Streets in Old Sacramento. The diesel-powered “Spookomotive” pulls the whimsically decorated train, crawling with spiders, cobwebs and cornstalks and staffed by a “skeleton crew.” Visitors are encouraged to climb aboard for a fun-filled, 40-minute, six-mile roundtrip ride along the Sacramento River.

In addition to “Spookomotive” train rides, Old Sacramento will be crawling with other activities during October including Ghost Tours and trick-or-treating. For more information about Old Sacramento activities, visit www.oldsacramento.com. For more about “Spookomotive” train rides or other California State Railroad Museum events and activities, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

About the California State Railroad Museum
Operated by California State Parks with financial assistance from the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the California State Railroad Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the complex of facilities includes the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum plus the reconstructed Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Freight Depot, 1849 Eagle Theatre, and Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill commercial buildings in Old Sacramento. For 24-hour information, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

Railroad Museum Rolls Out Collection of California Depot Sketches

2011-08-31T16:46:48Z

The California State Railroad Museum will debut a fascinating documentary-style exhibit titled “Wedlock’s Gift: California Railroad Depot Images in Ink” in two phases with the first set of 26 sketches beginning on September 1, 2011 and continuing through February 2012. Then, in August 2012, the second set of 26 sketches will debut and continue through December 2012. Following the completion of his quest to interpret many of California’s disappearing historic railroad depots in brush and ink, commercial artist Walter J. Wedlock gifted the complete set of 52 drawings and one watercolor to the California State Railroad Museum in 1985 after seeing the collection together for the first time during a special exhibit.

Wedlock’s quest began in the 1970s, when he realized historic railroad depots that had once dotted the rail lines of California were in danger of being demolished due to the decline of passenger train travel. Racing against time and the wrecking ball, Wedlock sketched his compelling images on-the-spot after tracking down various depots built primarily between the 1880s and the late 1930s. Wedlock did not concentrate on any one architectural style, railroad company or structure, but instead focused on capturing the unique personality of each historic railroad depot, many of which had been the center of their communities at an earlier time. While more than a third of the depots sketched by Wedlock have been demolished, many communities subsequently launched successful efforts to save their endangered depots. Today, many house museums or have changed to some other adaptive reuse. Happily, several are once again busy transportation centers for the communities they serve.

Each drawing in the “Wedlock’s Gift: California Railroad Depot Images in Ink” exhibit will include information about the structure’s heritage including the date it was built, the architectural style and building materials used, the railroad company with which it was associated, and whether the station still exists today and, if so, its current use.

For more information about “Wedlock’s Gift: California Depot Images in Ink” exhibit or other exhibits on display at the Museum, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

About the California State Railroad Museum
Operated by California State Parks with financial assistance from the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the California State Railroad Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the complex of facilities includes the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum plus the reconstructed Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Freight Depot, 1849 Eagle Theatre, and Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill commercial buildings in Old Sacramento. For 24-hour information, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento area including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

Special Photo Opportunity & Lighting Seminar at Railroad Museum!

2011-08-12T18:01:07Z

Lights, Camera, Action! The California State Railroad Museum is proud to host a unique “Trains & Tripods Photo Opportunity & Lighting Seminar" on Friday evening, September 16 and Saturday morning, September 17.

The two-part program includes an optional seminar on existing light photography and a photographers-only photo session inside the visually-enticing museum before it opens to the public for the day. Amateur photographers of all skill levels can choose to attend one or both of the activities. Conducted by former Sacramento Bee photographer and Canon USA consultant Dave Henry, the fast-paced and information-packed lighting seminar is scheduled for Friday evening with the “bring your own tripod” photography opportunity scheduled for Saturday morning.

Space is limited to 50 participants and advance registration for “Trains & Tripods” is required. All photographers are required to sign a release of liability and a “not for commercial use” clause. For more information or to register, interested photographers are encouraged to visit www.csrmf.org/events-exhibits/whats-new or call 916-445-7373.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the Sacramento area including the California State Railroad Museum.

Railroad Museum to Debut Exhibition of Award-Winning Photography

2011-08-09T21:42:49Z

As part of a special exhibition debuting on August 26, the California State Railroad Museum is proud to showcase award-winning photographs from the prestigious Center for Railroad Photography & Art’s 2011 Creative Photography Awards Program.

With submissions received from all over the world, the theme of this year’s competition was “A Story in Three Photographs,” which challenged photographers to tell a story through three images that depicted an event or a day unfolding, illustrated a span of time, or was a creative interpretation of a single subject.

The top prize in the Center’s 2011 Creative Photography Awards Program went to Miško Kranjec of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Second place went to Stephen Hussar of Reading, Massachusetts, and third place went to Patrick J. Cashin of Brooklyn, New York. Judged by Joseph Elliott, Professor of Art (Photography) and Head of the Department at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, felt the top three sets of entries were all outstanding in different ways and said “If it was up to me, I would say they should share first place in a three-way tie.”

This special photography exhibit will remain on display at the California State Railroad Museum through June 2012, joining the Museum’s regular lineup of permanent and changing exhibitions, along with special events. In addition to being showcased in the special exhibit at the Railroad Museum, the award-winning photographs will be featured in an upcoming issue of Railfan & Railroad magazine and the Center’s journal, Railroad Heritage.

More information about the competition and the Center for Railroad Photography & Art can be found at www.railphoto-art.org, and more information about the California State Railroad Museum is available at www.csrmf.org or by calling (916) 445-6645.

About the California State Railroad Museum
Operated by California State Parks with financial assistance from the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation, the California State Railroad Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Widely regarded as North America’s finest and most popular railroad museum, the complex of facilities includes the 100,000-square foot Railroad History Museum plus the reconstructed Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and Freight Depot, 1849 Eagle Theatre, and Big Four and Dingley Spice Mill commercial buildings in Old Sacramento. For 24-hour information, visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org or call (916) 445-6645.

Disclosure: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations throughout the greater Sacramento region including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

National Train Show Makes Stop in Sacramento

2011-07-12T08:59:12Z

Generations of model train enthusiasts came to the Sacramento Convention Center this weekend to experience the ultimate showcase of model railroading. The 21st Annual National Train Show came to town with thousands of square feet devoted to model train displays inside the Convention Center.

The National Train Show is held at different cities in the U.S. and showcases the industry’s new and one of a kind products and services from retailers and manufacturers from around the U.S. and world.

Model trains, accessories, track and collectibles were shown at different miniature venues. This is a prime show for model train connoisseurs, from those who have been involved for the past half century or so, to the new collector looking for that special train, track or accessory that completes their collection.

One of the most popular display areas on the floor was the unbelievable 2,500 square foot Lego Mini Land display. Landscape, buildings, bridges, waterfalls, vehicles of all kinds and many more items made entirely by Lego pieces filled the area.

Children and adults marveled at the Lego creations as they watched in awe as trains travelled through the great landscape. Millions of Lego pieces were used to create the marvelous structures, vehicles and moving trains.

Around 300 exhibitors showcased their model train items at the show, which also included a model train Hall of Fame. Intricate tracks were laid out on certain displays and every single setup was done to showcase detail.

A children’s play area was also set up with train sets. For some of the kids, the play area may be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with trains. Many junior engineers were made during the event and wore brand new engineer hats to enjoy the show.

The three day show was very popular for families. Besides the model train exhibits, there were vendors selling accessories, electronics, replacement parts, starter sets and much more. Vendors were more than willing to spend time chatting about best practices, places to begin or where to find items not available onsite.

The National Train Show (NTS) is owned, produced and sponsored by the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA). The NMRA was founded in 1935 and is the largest of its kind in the world. Established in 1988, the NTS promotes model railroading as an active hobby for people of all ages. The show is geared for model train enthusiasts as well as any model building fans.

The weekend event showcased great planning and building feats and made many new fans. Children enjoy the event as much as their parents and grandparents, making the event a very enjoyable family outing.

Information on the National Model Railroad Association, membership and train modeling and activities can be found on the NMRA website.

Railroad Technology Museum Project Consultant Begins July 1

2011-06-30T15:56:36Z

Railroad expert Peter Hansen has been named as project consultant for the Railroad Technology Museum, an expansion of the popular California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento which is part of California State Parks. His position, which is effective July 1, 2011, has been added by the California State Railroad Museum Foundation to assist California State Parks in the development of the project.

Hansen has a long and impressive background as a rail historian, exhibit curator, lecturer and writer. His extensive work history includes serving as editor and publisher of Railroad History -- the journal of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society -- for the past four years, and also as a correspondent for Trains magazine. In addition, he has 14 years of experience and progressive project management responsibility with Sprint, which culminated in the construction of a $25 million, 20,000-square foot briefing center at the corporate headquarters of this telecommunications firm.

“Peter Hansen brings an accomplished resume of business experience, along with a grasp of history and museum audience psychology that we believe will be extremely useful as the Railroad Technology Museum project moves forward,” said Catherine Taylor, District Superintendent for Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks. “California State Parks is delighted that the Railroad Museum Foundation has selected such a qualified candidate to help lead the development efforts of this noteworthy museum development project.”

“For over a decade, the Railroad Technology Museum has been planned to occupy two historic structures in the Downtown Sacramento Railyards,” said Robert Slobe, Board Chairman for the CSRM Foundation. “With the project poised to move forward this year, the Railroad Museum Foundation Board has made a bold decision. This is an important project for all of California and the United States, and one that is critical to the future of the Downtown Sacramento Railyards and the preservation legacy of the Capital City as well.”

The Railroad Technology Museum Project Consultant position is funded by the non-profit California State Railroad Museum Foundation, organized in the late 1980s to raise and manage funds and assist California State Parks in the operation of the California State Railroad Museum, widely regarded as North America’s most popular railroad museum. Included in the original 1970s master plan for the California State Railroad Museum, the Railroad Technology Museum -- when completed -- is expected to increase visitation at the California State Railroad Museum complex to nearly one million annually.

The present-day California State Railroad Museum is home to 21 meticulously restored locomotives and cars and numerous exhibits that illustrate how railroads have shaped people's lives, the economy, and the unique culture of California and the West. The Railroad Technology Museum will add a whole new set of experiences and dimensions, showcasing the ingenuity, science and engineering of the railroad. Housed in some of the West’s most significant industrial heritage structures, this new museum will combine the hands-on interactive experiences of a science museum with a factory tour unlike any other, and look not just at the past but also to the future of railroads and high-speed rail in tomorrow’s world.

As the Railroad Technology Museum project progresses, new information will be available at www.californistaterailroadmuseum.org.

Disclaimer: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents a number of businesses and organizations in the greater Sacramento area including the California State Railroad Museum.

Railroad museum seeks volunteers

2011-05-19T01:08:19Z

The California State Railroad Museum and Historic Park is calling all volunteers to enter its 50th volunteer academy – volunteers who, according to officials, are the museum’s backbone.

“We couldn’t run the museum without our docents. They are everything,” said Theresa Gonsolis, a guide and volunteer coordinator.

She added that the museum – founded in 1981 – is considered the premiere indoor railroad museum in the country.

Applications for the volunteer docent class are online and are being accepted through May 31, though Gonsolis said there is some “wiggle room” in the deadline.

“Our philosophy is: the more the merrier,” she said.

Docents are only required to work seven hours per month, which can be split up between two days or done in one day, she said, adding that many docents prefer to work more often – some several days per week.

Chip Fong became a volunteer docent nine years ago shortly after retiring from the California Highway Patrol.

“I like to tell people about the history,” he said. “Sacramento is ground zero for California history.”

Fong said working in the dining car in the museum is his favorite because it’s one of the best examples of an original dining car from an era when rail travel was far more common.

He has also worked on the active Sacramento Southern Railroad operated by the museum and other positions.

“It’s a great social life if you like to talk about the history of the railroad and what it did for America – it was the glue that held us together,” Fong said.

To be a docent, previous knowledge of the railroad is not required, Gonsolis said.

The volunteer course, which starts June 25, runs for four weeks and includes three-hour classes Monday and Wednesday evenings as well as seven-and-a-half-hour classes Saturdays.

After graduation, docents can go to work in one of several areas – the museum, the car shop (where train cars are cleaned and maintained), the signals group (which operates train signals), the model train exhibits on the second floor and others.

“We recommend shadowing other experienced docents for a little bit first,” Gonsols said. “They can learn even more from their wealth of knowledge.”

That knowledge is shared with the approximately 500,000 people who pass through the attraction every year.

School groups are common visitors, and 10-year-old fifth grader Cecilia Estrada of Berkeley said Wednesday that the docents were very helpful.

“I enjoyed the trains,” she said. “(The docents) told us really interesting stories about them.”

Cecilia said she thought the refrigeration car was interesting.

Gonsolis added that refrigeration cars allowed California produce to be transported all over the nation, making it the state’s “true gold” as part of the economy.

For more information about applying and an online application, click here.

“This is really a museum where the interaction we have with the public who come and visit is important,” Gosolis said. “(The volunteer docents) are what make our visitors so in awe of this museum.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Old Sacramento Springs Into Action on April 2!

2011-03-02T17:23:02Z

With a special “Family Fun Day” and crowd-pleasing favorites such as the always popular steam-powered excursion train rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad and the coveted second season of the intriguing underground tours, Old Sacramento bursts into spring full steam ahead on Saturday, April 2. With so much to do, guests to Old Sacramento are encouraged to spend the day exploring old favorites and unearthing new discoveries. Check it out:

“Pick Me! Family Fun Day” at the California State Railroad Museum - April 2 ONLY
In celebration of the new and visually exciting “Pick Me! Fruit Crate Art & the California Dream” exhibit, the California State Railroad Museum invites the community to a special “Family Fun Day” on Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free with admission to North America’s most popular train museum, guests will be treated to fun-filled activities such as hand-car rides inside the Museum, a produce-inspired scavenger hunt, kid-friendly Museum programs, create-your-own fruit labels, “California Grown” activity books, games puzzles and giveaways and more! For Museum admission information, go to www.csrmf.org.

Steam-Powered Excursion Train Rides - Start April 2
The California State Railroad Museum’s popular excursion railroad--the Sacramento Southern Railroad--officially returns to operation for the 28th consecutive season on Saturday, April 2, and will continue on weekends through September. Weekend excursion trains depart every hour on-the-hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online tickets will soon be available at www.csrmf.org. Guests are treated to a six-mile, 40-minute roundtrip excursion along the levees of the Sacramento River. The train features a combination of vintage closed coaches with comfortable seats, and open-air “gondolas” with bench style seating.

Old Sacramento Underground Tours - Start April 2
After a very successful inaugural year with more than 10,000 underground tour tickets sold in 2010, Old Sacramento Underground tours will resume for a second season on Saturday, April 2, and continue through November. While tour dates will be expanded in the summer months, the initial underground tour schedule as of April 2 is as follows: on Saturdays and Sundays, tours depart every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the month of May. Starting in June and continuing through August, tours will be available Thursdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. departing every 30 minutes. Tour times change again in September and interested guests are encouraged to check the website for updated tour times and information.

Tours of the underground last approximately one hour in length and check-in is located at the Sacramento History Museum, 101 I Street in Old Sacramento. Underground visitors will need to be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces in areas that have low ceilings and in occasional small spaces. Coordinated by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (HOSF) and in partnership with the City of Sacramento, California State Parks, Old Sacramento Business Association and participating merchants and businesses, advance tickets for underground tours are available now for online purchase at www.historicoldsac.org.

With so much to do beginning on April 2, it's all in a day's play in Old Sacramento!

Note: Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents various organizations and businesses in Sacramento including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.

Travelers' thoughts about firearms on Amtrak

2010-12-03T01:07:13Z

With news of Amtrak’s new firearm policy to take effect Dec. 15, The Sacramento Press wanted to get an idea of what travelers think about the decision.

First-time Amtrak traveler Tina Stephens simply doesn’t see the need for such a policy.

“I don’t see any reason why anybody would need a firearm on the train anyway,” Stephens said. “I see no need for people to carry one if the people who work for Amtrak don’t have to carry them. That just opens yourself up for a lot of problems.”

Christina Miller of Redding also has mixed feelings about the policy.

“I don’t see a problem with it, but then again the terrorist thing is kind of scary,” Miller said. “If I were a hunter and I was traveling, I would want to be able to travel with what I need to hunt. But I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

Mike Goedert of Iowa sees no problem with it.

“I guess I don’t have any problem with it as long as they separate it from the individual who brings it aboard, I guess that would be fine,” Goedert said. “It’s just like any other apparel you would bring like a knife or something that you can stick in your luggage and they let you bring that aboard, so I guess it’s allright.”

Sharon, a frequent Amtrak traveler, isn’t comfortable with the idea.

“I think it’s really unusual. I think that it will cause everyone to be searched more, and I’m not comfortable with it,” she said. “As a frequent traveler, I have wondered why we haven’t had more awareness of baggage, and I think that this could cause a big problem.”

On the other hand, Spencer Schilling, 23, is just starting to travel on Amtrak a lot and approves of the policy as long as it’s done right.

“It sounds fine to me as long as they’re authorized to have the gun in the first place,” Schilling said. “As long as they’re legally allowed to and it’s locked on-board, then it’s fine with me.”

Sacramentan Annie Lee said she thinks it sounds OK in theory, but could be dangerous in practice.

“I just think that if they’re going to be vigilant about checking it, and they’re going to make sure that the arms are going to be locked, then that should be OK,” Lee said. “My only concern is then other people may try to abuse this law and take it further. Once you open the door to allow firearms, people may start to allow firearms on that are not locked or unloaded. There’s always going to be loopholes people are going to try to get in between.”

Margarita Garcia, however, said she doesn’t think the new policy is a good idea under any circumstance.

“I don’t think its a good idea because there’s a lot of kids, and even if they’re locked away and stuff, you never know. There’s a lot of crazy people out there, and you just never know.”

What do you think about Amtrak’s new policy?

Graveyard Shift

2010-08-09T23:44:34Z

From the time I was very young, I found myself drawn to cemeteries. It is not a creepy or morbid infatuation that lures me, but the palpable sense of history they provide.

Where some see death in graveyards, I see a connection to lives past.

I've also always been enamored by the railroad. As a child, I spent countless hours playing with the model train sets in the attic of my grandfather’s house in Portsmouth, Ohio.

From my station in the attic, I could look out the window, down the hill and see the headstones of Greenlawn Cemetery.

The Old City Cemetery offered a "History of the Railroad" tour on Saturday morning, and I was there, with bells on.

I arrived around 9:50 a.m., and there were close to two dozen people milling about waiting for the tour to start. I mentioned to a gentleman next to me that it seemed to be a great turnout. Then another couple dozen folks showed up.

By the time the tour began, there were close to 60 people looking to get their railroad history fix. I've been to A's games that weren't so well attended.

The crowd certainly skewed towards the "Murder She Wrote," early-bird-special age group, but pretty much every demographic was represented (Except for the teens. Lord knows how those ne’er-do-wells spend their Saturday mornings. Certainly not touring graveyards).

I am happy to report, however, that the 5- to 13-year-old demographic was very well represented, highlighted by the girl scouts of Del Garden Service Unit 127, Troop 74. The girls comported themselves very well, took pictures with the docents, asked questions, and seemed to really enjoy themselves. I'm not sure I'd have been so keen to spend a Saturday learning about railroad history at their age. There's hope for our future yet!

Our tour guide, Evan, was all decked out in period train engineer garb. Along the way, he introduced us to several other visitors from bygone days.

We met Edwin Crocker, of Crocker Museum fame along with his second wife, Margeret, and their daughter Aimee.

The three of them regaled us with fascinating tales of early Sacramento, and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad.

One of my favorites involved my people: the Irish. Irish immigrants laid most of the westbound track for the Union Pacific. Nipping at their heels was "Hell on Wheels," a collection of gambling houses, dance halls, saloons and brothels filled with "ladies of easy virtue" who catered to the workers’ every indulgence.

Apparently, it had a negative effect on productivity.

The Central Pacific Railroad skirted the problem by recruiting workers from China, who were far less inclined to get into drunken knife fights over hookers at gambling houses.

We met an engine room fireman named Scott, standing by the grave of boy hero William Brown. Scott introduced us to the precocious engineer, who, at the ripe old age of 23, saved the lives of a hundred troops, as well as that of our raconteur, by pulling the pin on his runaway locomotive. The passenger cars came to a stop, while William and his locomotive plunged headlong into San Francisco Bay.

The Widow Congden, dressed all in black, recounted the tragic yet heroic tale of her husband’s passing. Charles Congden died at the controls of the Oregon Express, but saved dozens of lives in doing so. The story has a heartwrenching twist, as the young fireman who discovered Charles' body was Walter Congden, the engineer’s eldest son.

All of the volunteers do a wonderful job of bringing these stories to life, embodying their long-dead personas with great enthusiasm and care.

The tour takes about an hour and a half, winding through one of the most beautiful cemeteries I've ever seen.

City Cemetery is Sacramento's oldest. It was founded in 1849, covers 44 acres and is the final resting place for more than 25,000 individuals. In recent years it has been lovingly restored by volunteers to it's present state, which is nothing short of spectacular.

They offer a wide array of guided tours, each dedicated to different aspects of the venerable old graveyard. Check out oldcitycemetery.com to find the schedule.

The Cemetery is open for self-guided tours from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday through Wednesday.

I highly recommend the tour to history buffs, Sacramento lovers, cemeteryphiles or anyone else who's looking for a fun, interesting and educational way to spend a couple of hours.

I'm already looking forward to the next one.

History, Railroad & Movie Buffs Unite!

2010-06-25T21:16:41Z

Light, Camera, Action!

The California State Railroad Museum is set to debut a visually appealing exhibit titled “Rails and Reels: Hollywood, Trains and the Making of Motion Pictures” on Friday, July 2, 2010. The upcoming exhibit will feature a variety of railroad-related artifacts, such as scale models of train cars used for special effect crash scenes in the 1939 epic Union Pacific, a full-size smokestack and headlamp used to “backdate” steam locomotives to represent the “old west,” and station signs used in movies, including “High Noon”; a costume from the 1979 television movie Orphan Train; plus sheet music, movie posters, lobby cards, original film scripts, and other Hollywood-themed promotional items from railroad related films dating from the early 1900s.

The focus of the exhibit is to demonstrate how railroads have played an important role in television and film productions since the very early days of Hollywood, and how they continue to play starring roles in today’s increasingly “virtual” productions. In the early days of motion pictures America was fascinated with westerns, and locomotives often starred alongside leading actors and actresses such as Gary Cooper, Grace Kelley and Paul Newman. Eventually, westerns gave way to different popular culture genres such as science fiction productions and today’s action-packed thrillers, many of which continue to incorporate locomotives into their scenes and backdrops.

The opening of this new exhibit in Old Sacramento is timed to coincide with the completed restoration of the 1891-vintage steam locomotive Sierra No. 3 at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California. A star in its own right, Sierra No. 3 (also known as the “Movie Star Locomotive”) has appeared in more than 100 Hollywood movie and television productions. Some of the films No. 3 starred in will be chronicled in the “Rails and Reels” exhibit at the Museum.

Located in the Railroad Museum’s Mezzanine Gallery, the special exhibit will continue through May 31, 2011.

'Some Assembly Required' features vintage toys, brings back memories

2009-11-21T03:16:02Z

A 1950s Lionel train advertisement shows a father, mother, little girl and boy peering into a window display featuring a model train going through a city, over a bridge and into the mountains. The father appears to be the most interested -- head cocked, hand on his chin, ready to help his child build the toy train set.

An adjacent Lionel Train advertisement shows a father sitting on the ground assembling a train set, while his son sits in the background frowning.

California State Railroad Museum's "Some Assembly Required" exhibit, which opened today, featured a somewhat similar scene. Many families were in the museum, but the historical toy exhibit seemed to strike the strongest chord with older men.

Filled with erector sets, trolleys and wind-ups, the exhibit shows vintage toys from the 1870s to the 1960s. The pièce de résistance is a layout, complete with a working Lionel Train set, that looks like the window display of Bullock's department store in 1956 Los Angeles.

For Jeff Hall, a 54-year-old who was born in Los Angeles, the layout brought back a lot of memories.

"I had a Lionel train set and looked forward to putting it around the Christmas tree every year," he said. Hall, the father of four daughters, said he brought home a train set for his children one year, but it wasn't a big hit.

"They were into other things," he said. Two were interested in horses and the other two were more into sports.

It was a similar story for another father, John Curtis, who also grew up putting a train set around the Christmas tree. While his 4-year-old daughter Emily likes riding real trains, Curtis said she doesn't really play with toy trains.

"(Emily) likes to play on the Nintendo DS, she's big on Barbies and she's all about Play-Doh," Curtis said.

Jeff Allen, a CSRM volunteer docent in his 50s, said he played with nearly every toy in the exhibit when he was younger.

"It really gives you an idea of what toys were like. I remember playing with most of these," he said. "When I'm working around these toys, it's like I'm 4 years old."

Allen said he played with toy trains as a kid, and still has two sets of operational model trains. He said that his love of trains led him to become a docent, adding that working at the museum "is a kick" because he can be around trains.

In addition to "Some Assembly Required," the permanent display of toy trains on the third floor is a must-see. The exhibit shows the history of the toy train, nearly every train size available from Z scale (smallest) to G scale (largest), and interactive toy sets and layouts.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, the museum's first floor also features a working toy train chugging around a Christmas tree.

Those who seek an additional holiday-themed train experience can sign up for Santa's Steam Train, Nov. 27-29. The steam train departs from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot adjacent to the museum and riders also have admittance to the museum and the 13th Annual Toy Train Holiday Show.

The annual show, on Thanksgiving weekend, features local hobbyists displaying their toy and model train layouts in the museum. Tickets for Santa's Steam Train are $15, $7 for ages 6-17, free ages 5 and younger. The train departs hourly from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

California State Railroad Museum, 125 I St., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Museum admission is $9, $4 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and younger. "Some Assembly Required" runs until Feb. 20.

All photographs are of "Some Assembly Required," except for image 5, which shows the Christmas tree display on the first floor.

All aboard!

2009-07-26T18:50:34Z

Lots of train-lovers showed up at the Lionel® Collectors Club of America (LCCA) Train Show in Sacramento from Wednesday through Saturday at the Radisson Hotel. The Trading Hall was full of trains and accessories for sale, including hard-to-find items. The“Gee Whiz”, a new, large Lionel company train layout was set up in the hotel and in continuous operation Wednesday evening through Saturday afternoon of convention week.

Many enjoy the excitement, elegance, and power of real trains as well as the equally fascinating but smaller-in-scale O-gauge electric train models made by Lionel LLC and other manufacturers. Modern technology built into today’s toy trains enables a highly interactive model railroading experience on home layouts. Today’s trains spew synthetic smoke from their stacks, emit realistic onboard digital sound effects derived from recordings of actual trains, and mimic the crew talk between a train engineer and a dispatcher. Call-outs of station stops by a conductor are included on passenger trains equipped with this audio feature.

Most LCCA members had electric trains when they were young in the late 1940s and the ‘50s when trains were the Christmas toy of choice. Others discovered the hobby later in life. Members approach the hobby through different pathways. Some specialize in collecting and operating trains known as “fallen flags,” railroads that once served a region but were closed, went bankrupt, or merged with a dominant railroad. LCCA President Dick Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio, is an exemplar of that approach. He collects and operates trains of the now-defunct B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) railroad.

Others seek to re-acquire trains they once owned as a boy but were subsequently discarded. At train

shows, auctions, and online sites, they seek trains like the ones they owned decades ago. Club

member Barry Findley of North Little Rock, Arkansas, spent five wonderful years seeking the items

in the train set he once had as a youngster. “The thrill is in the chase,” he said.

The hobby isn’t necessarily a “guy thing” any more. Wives of members are often engaged in aspects of the hobby that appeal to them; for example, scene decoration, making and painting structures from kits or from scratch, or shopping for trains and supplies.

Krysti Dewey (now 17), of Wichita, Kansas, will attend the upcoming event with her mom and extended family. She has become a regular participant in LCCA conventions over the years, and is considered a young “club mascot.” Krysti’s favorite railroad is the C&O [Chesapeake and Ohio], and she has her own trains of that railroad. She is a skilled train operator and often helps out at LCCA conventions by sharing her affinity for the hobby with visiting youngsters.

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) was founded in the Midwest in 1970 by a group of hobbyists to promote awareness and enjoyment of toy trains. Today, the LCCA is a not-for-profit, international hobby-based organization with more than 8,000 members who are toy train collectors and operators. Members favor Lionel trains, and the club collaborates with Lionel LLC to produce limited-edition collectible cars, train sets, and special products exclusively for members.

For more information, go to: http://www.lionelcollectors.org/

Phoos | Kati Garner

Amtrak locomotive gets an eco-makeover

2009-07-23T07:20:19Z

California's air may start to look a little cleaner, thanks to the California Department of Transportation and its project partners.

Caltrans's revolutionary "green locomotive" debuted Wednesday morning at the Amtrak Sacramento Valley station.

Members of Caltrans and its project partners assembled within the train station at a press release to make statements regarding the new locomotive, considered a major step toward reducing California's carbon footprint.

It is one of the 15 F59PHI model locomotives owned by Caltrans and operated by Amtrak that is now installed with a 710ECO Repower upgrade package. The package is said to consist of the latest microprocessor-controlled locomotive engine technology for lower emissions, increased fuel economy and predictable maintenance costs.

The F59PHI models were initially built by Electro-Motive Diesel, Inc. in October 2001 to meet Tier 0 Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards, the minimum EPA requirement for fuel emissions from passenger locomotives.

James Goldstene, executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, explained that in other words, the newly-installed technology in the F59PHI model makes the engine run cooler and uses fuel more efficiently, allowing the locomotive to advance from Tier 0 to Tier 2 EPA emission standards, resulting in a 50 percent reduction of operating emissions.

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson said that the development is "an illustration of our willingness to work with anyone and everyone to clean up the air for Sacramentans." He added that climate change and global warming is an issue that must be addressed at the local level by communities, and that the newly-introduced technology makes riding the train a "smarter and better" decision than ever before.

Following the statements, the representatives of Caltrans, the EPA and other organizations descended into the tunnel beneath the Sacramento Valley rail tracks, resurfacing to stop and admire the "green locomotive."

The retrofitted model has already begun operating on the intercity passenger rail service Capitol Corridor between Sacramento and the Bay Area as of three weeks ago.

The Capitol Corridor serves the Sierra Foothills in addition to Sacramento and the Bay area, and it is operated by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority in partnership with Caltrans and Amtrak.

Along with Amtrak California’s Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquin intercity rail line, Capitol Corridor is the third busiest rail line in the nation with a ridership of 1.7 million.

Capitol Corridor alone is responsible for eliminating 559 million miles worth of highway travel, said Eugene Skoropowski, Capitol Corridor managing director.

Caltrans is working to convert the remaining 14 Amtrak-operated locomotives to this upgraded model — which is the cleanest diesel electric passenger locomotive in the country — as quickly as possible, stated Caltrans Division of Rail chief Bill Bronte. So far there is available stimulus funding for seven of the 14, he said.

Money for the project came from the Carl Moyer Program, a partnership between the California Air Resources Board and local air boards in the state that provides grants for projects reducing pollutants from heavy-duty engines. Retrofitting the F59PHI involved both the Sacramento Metropolitan and Bay Area Air Quality Management districts.

Kevin Bahline of EMD said that the company is in the process of launching the eco-friendly technology globally.

See also: Eco train engine unveiled

Photo Credit: Images 1, 2, 4 & 5 by Ed Fogle; images 3 & 6 by Kati Garner.

Eco train engine unveiled

2009-07-18T00:51:02Z

A greener locomotive will make its official California debut in Sacramento Wednesday.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will present the locomotive during a press conference at the Sacramento Valley Rail Station, which holds a prestigious spot in railroad history as the western starting point for the Transcontinental Railroad.

Caltrans and Amtrak are partners operating "Amtrak California." Caltrans owns this locomotive, plus 16 others and 88 train cars. Amtrak operates the trains and stations.

The first in the Amtrak California passenger fleet, the locomotive has been upgraded to operate using the cleanest diesel technology available for train engines.

“This is really a big step for Caltrans. We took a proactive role to get a cleaner locomotive on the tracks, and we’re proud to see this project through,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton. "It aligns with Gov. (Arnold) Schwarzenegger's objectives to clean up Caltrans’ carbon footprint, and it contributes to the bigger goal of California going green."

The locomotive -- built in 2001 by Illinois-based Electro-Motive Diesel -- was upgraded in May by the same company to produce lower greenhouse gas emissions and use less fuel, among other things.

The locomotive has been powering Amtrak trains on the Capitol Corridor Route between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area since June.

Amtrak California expects to reduce its operating emissions by up to almost 50 percent after converting 14 other locomotives of the same model to this technology, according to Caltrans' rail division.

Christmas rolls into Old Sac on Disney train

2009-06-19T04:10:56Z

Despite the sweltering temperatures, it will be Christmas in June this weekend in Old Sacramento.

On a 40-city interactive train tour,"Disney's A Christmas Carol" train will be pulling into Old Sacramento Friday through Sunday as a promotion for the upcoming "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which is scheduled to open in November and stars Jim Carrey.

Carolers, Christmas decorations and fake snow will transform the train tracks near the California State Railroad Museum into a winter wonderland for families and children of all ages.

Those who hop aboard the train will be treated to several different exhibit cars highlighting the making of the movie and featuring props and costumes from the film. A sneak preview of the film will be shown in the "3D Tent," and visitors will have the chance to pay a virtual visit to the Charles Dickens Museum in London and see actual artifacts from the museum.

Children can morph their own faces to look like characters from the movie and have the chance to win prizes from Disney and Hewlett Packard, which is providing the technology for the train.

The tour, which began on Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles, will come to an end in November at New York's Grand Central Terminal when the film will be shown in Digital 3D and IMAX 3D across the United States.

Visiting the train is free to the public, and for those who wish to visit the museum afterward, the admission box in front will be offering coupons good for two-for-one admissions.

The California State Railroad Museum is located at 111 I St. in Old Sacramento.

The Railroad Museum will have extended hours through the weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Sunday.

To follow the train's tour, click here