Outside Activities
The Coast Rails 2014 Convention has one tour left this year, the Amtrak South and Back Tour. All other tours were cancelled due to a lack of interest and not reaching the minimums needed to be economically feasible. Check the "News & Updates" page periodically for further updates.
OVER THE CUESTA TOUR CANCELLED !
These tours have been cancelled, as of 8:30 PM, 4/24/14:
- Over The Cuesta Tour (Cancelled 4/24/14)
- Hearst Castle Tour
- Bitter Creek Western RR with Wine Tasting Tour
- Pacific Coast Railway Tour
- Fillmore & Western Railway Tour
If you purchased any of the above tours, you may change to the remaining tour by contacting Doug Wagner, Coast Rails 2014 Registrar.
Click here for information on the remaining tour. Refunds will be issued either via PayPal or check, depending on how the original payment was submitted.
04/24/14, 8:30 PM
T O U R S
Click for more Outside ActivitiesAmtrak South & Back Tour
Thursday, May 1, 6:55 AM to 3:22 PM
"The Coast Line: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara" brochure, describes points of interest along the way. Be sure to download it and take it with you to heighten your experience of the trip south and back. (Courtesy of Central Coast Railroad Festival.)
Enjoy unique views of the Pacific Ocean as you glide south from San Luis Obispo on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to Santa Barbara. You will see some of the highest quality coastal habitat, with chaparral, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland, only visible from the railroad on the sprawling Vandenberg Air Force Base, a military installation in a national park setting.
After arriving in the resort town of Santa Barbara, you can walk along the sandy beach or stroll out over the Pacific Ocean on Stearns Wharf, California's oldest working wharf. Taste wines and eat lunch at a variety of restaurants, all while enjoying the fresh ocean breeze and watching fishermen unload their catch . Also nearby is the Reagan Ranch Center (free admission, opens at 11:00 AM), located in downtown Santa Barbara.
For the return trip to San Luis Obispo, you'll climb on board the Amtrak Coast Starlight for a repeat performance of the morning's trip. What could be better? Two different trains in one day! A truly unique experience.
Depart SLO Amtrak station at 6:55 AM, arrive in Santa Barbara 9:24 AM. Depart Santa Barbara Amtrak Station at 12:40 PM, return to SLO Amtrak Station at 3:22 PM.
12 person minimum
| Price: $85.00 |
Over The Cuesta Tour UN-CANCELLED!!! - 4/30/14, SOLD OUT
Wednesday, April 30, 3:35 PM to 6:00 PM
Board Amtrak Coast Starlight Train 14 in San Luis Obispo and travel to Paso Robles, over "The Cuesta", then return by bus. The Cuesta, starting in San Luis Obispo and ending in Santa Margarita is 19 miles of climbing through 5 tunnels as it surmounts the 1,380 foot summit over the Santa Lucia range. The Cuesta is the most difficult climb on the entire Coast Line from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The steepest portion of the grade is about 2.2%. There are also places on the Cuesta where the train makes turns back on itself in such a manner so that both ends of the train can easily be seen from the middle. (Thanks to Bruce Morden for this information.)
Be sure to attend Bruce Morden's clinic, "Going North Over Cuesta", so you know what to watch for on the trip. Here's Bruce's turn-by-turn narrative of the trip suitable for printing to take along with you. NOTE: We may have a revision closer to the convention start date. Check the "News & Updates" page periodically for updates.
Depart SLO Amtrak station at 3:35 PM. Upon arrival in Paso Robles, board bus for return trip to SLO, returning about 6:00 PM.
Bus Tour (return leg only): 30 person minimum, 47 maximum
| Price: $53.00 | CANCELLED 4/24/14 |
Hearst Castle Tour CANCELLED - 4/10/14
Thursday, May 1, 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM
The Hearst Castle "Grand Rooms" Tour is ideal for first-time visitors. Gather in the grand social rooms of Casa Grande — W. R. Hearst’s formal name for the largest house at Hearst Castle — to experience what it was like to be a guest at this hilltop retreat. Tour highlights include Assembly Room, Refectory, Billiard Room, Theater, Gardens, Neptune Pool and Roman Pool. Includes ticket to “Building the Dream” at Hearst Castle IMAX Theater.
The Grand Rooms Tour explores the Castle’s opulent social rooms in the main house, and consists of:
- 45-minute tour
- Approximately 106 stairs, both up and down
- 2/3-mile route to walk
- 15-minute bus ride to and from the Visitor Center
- Considerable amounts of standing
Depart Sands at 7:30 AM, return about 1:00 PM.
Bus Tour: 30 person minimum, 47 maximum
| Price: $73.00 | CANCELLED 4/10/14 |
Bitter Creek Western RR with Wine Tasting Tour CANCELLED - 4/10/14
Friday, May 2, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Sample some of the finest wines produced in the area at two South County wineries and enjoy a visit to the 7½" gauge Bitter Creek Western Railroad, a privately-owned 7½" gauge railroad operated for the benefit of children of all ages who enjoy playing trains. The train ride is about 20 minutes long over the extensive track layout, as illustrated on their website.
Depart Sands at 1:00 PM, return at 5:00 PM.
Bus Tour: 30 person minimum, 47 maximum
| Price: $60.00 | CANCELLED 4/10/14 |
Pacific Coast Railway Tour CANCELLED - 4/10/14
Saturday, May 3, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Tour the former route of the 3' narrow gauge Pacific Coast Railway from Port San Luis to Los Olivios. Includes a picnic lunch. Originally, the PCRy operated from 1882 to 1941 over 76 miles of track to transport passengers and freight.
Depart Sands at 9:00 AM, return at 3:00 PM.
Bus Tour: 30 person minimum, 47 maximum
| Price: $60.00 | CANCELLED 4/10/14 |
Fillmore & Western Railway Tour CANCELLED - 4/10/14
Sunday, May 4, 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Travel by bus to the historic Fillmore & Western Railway, home of "The Movie Trains", and ride on the "Weekend Scenic Excursion" train. Travel back in time on board 1930s vintage passenger or dining cars as the train travels through century-old citrus and avocado groves in the beautiful Heritage Valley. On board, you will enjoy a full 3-course "Heritage Valley" lunch during the trip to our first stop.
The first stop is in downtown Santa Paula, where you can visit the historic SP Depot, the Saint Francis Dam Memorial sculpture, or several other historic sites, all within walking distance of the depot. The train will layover in Santa Paula for about 75 minutes. The second stop is at the Loose Caboose Garden Center and Gift Emporium, where you can browse the variety of unique offerings.
F&W yard tour, time permitting.
Depart Sands at 8:00 AM, return about 5:30 PM.
Bus Tour: 30 person minimum, 47 maximum
| Price: $82.00 | CANCELLED 4/10/14 |
More Outside Activities
NEW Bitter Creek Western Railroad
Sunday, May 4, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
The Bitter Creek Western Railroad is a privately-owned 7½" gauge railroad operated for the benefit of children of all ages who enjoy playing trains will be open Sunday afternoon for rides. There are no tickets or sign-ups required, just show up and have fun! The train ride is about 20 minutes long over the extensive track layout, as illustrated on their website. Located in Arroyo Grande, CA. (MAP)
SLORRM Open House & Yard Tour
Saturday, May 3, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Docents will be on hand to provide explanations and guidance. The musuem is located at 1940 Santa Barbara Ave, San Luis Obispo. (MAP)
- 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Inside the Museum:
- - Pacific Coast Railway at Avila model railroad will be running
- - Lower benchwork for SP Coast Line is under construction to cabinet-makers quality
- - Artifacts and displays of local railroads from the 1870s to the present
- - Company Store with a variety of items for sale
- 10:30 AM & 2:00 PM – Andrew Merriam, MMR #533, will present a 30-minute discussion of how the model railroad evolved and how they derived their standards and operations
- 11:00 AM – Walking tour of the Emily Street restoration yard including:
- - 1923 Southern Pacific outside braced boxcar
- - SP wooden caboose (class C-30-1)
- - short PMT trailer
- - several narrow gauge boxcars
- - and a lot of miscellaneous stuff
Brad LaRose, SLORRM President, will be giving a clinic at the Sands, Friday, 10:30 AM, in the Starlight Room, on the history of the development of rail travel in San Luis Obispo County and an overview of the history of the Museum. This clinic is a must-see if you plan on visiting the Museum.
NEW Central Valley Model Works Shop Tour
As part of the Convention layout tour, Jeff & Heather Parker will be giving tours of the Central Valley Model Works design and production facilities. These are co-located with Jeff’s large HO scale Northern Pacific layout.
Central Valley (www.cvmw.com) was started in 1947 by Jeff’s father, the late Jack Parker. The company produces bridges, tie strips, detailing parts and rolling stock, mainly in HO scale, with bridges in N scale as well.
The shop tour will take place Wednesday through Sunday during the Convention, per this schedule:
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM |
Not registered yet?
Then go to the "Registration" page and get on board!
Outside Activities Chairman
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