BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

If you have any questions about the event, please PM me.

krgatlgm Loc: Las Vegas, Nv

Have fun Mogul! That is a great museum. Have been several times in the past.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Thanks. It'll be fun, but I won't be taking any pictures. I am one of the museum docents and always volunteer to work with T&T. I always learn a lot just by watching. I also find that I can be useful by walking around with a Sekonic L-508 and color meter helping people figure out exposures. For a couple of days twice a year, I manage to combine two passions, photography and trains. Looking forward to a great turnout this year.

mtnredhed Loc: The part of NorCal that doesn't move

How big a turnout do they usually get? I'm trying to gauge how many shooters I might be having to compete with.

mtnredhed Loc: The part of NorCal that doesn't move

Ah, nev mind. I see it's limited to 50.

heyrob Loc: Western Washington

Awesome I wish I could come. My dad was the foreman for the masonry contractor on the construction of the museum, he ran the whole job for the brick portion. I was there visiting part way through the construction, and stopped by during lunch one day. He asked if I wanted to "lay a few brick in the wall?", I said "I couldn't lay three straight brick if I tried" he replied "That's okay, they want 'em crooked, they need to look the same as the rest of old Sac". I just laughed and got to lay 8 or 10 brick about 8 feet up in the wall just outside the window from where the C P Huntington sits now.

I love the museum, I was in Sac in November and couldn't pass up the chance to visit it while I was there. I'm just disappointed I didn't find out about the new Heritage Museum at the old Sac Shops till after I got home. Just an excuse to go back again I guess.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

The conversion of the shops to museum has been delayed for a number of reasons, including available funding, available personnel (most of the work, including shop work) in done by volunteers, lack of space (we have hundreds of pieces we would like to display, but we are currently using shop space for storage and ongoing projects), the EPA and, dare I say it, politics! We really would like to display the shops and back shops as what they are, actual working repair and restoration centers. There is so much to see beyond mechanical work, including the upholstery ship, window shop, painting, etc. if we had the money and personnel, we could have the finest and largest railroad museum in the world. For the last several weeks, we have been overhauling the turntable, which is more than a 100 year old display; it is an integral part of the operation of the Sacramento Southern Rail Road, an actual working (excursion AND commercial) enterprise - and it is necessary to our continued commitment to provide an ever-changing experience for our visitors.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I don't think I've ever seen more than 25-30 there.

heyrob Loc: Western Washington

My mistake, I was under the impression it was open. I actually visited the shops back in the late '80'sor early '90's I always got a visitors release to visit the SP yards when I came to Sac to visit my dad. It was an awesome place in it's heyday. To see the Google.Earth photos now it sure has changed.

The more I think about Trains & Tripods, I might just make a long weekend and come down for the event. Something in the museum website says they will do more of these? What are the chances it will happen again during the summer or fall?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Back in the 80's and 90's, you could walk right up to them and take pictures through all the broken windows - that is, if you didn't mind getting yelled at by a security guard. He wasn't usually nasty, but people should understand the dangers in the are of old shops that were run by people with no concept of environmental hazards, and he made sure of that. The pits were full of oil, water and who knows what kind of slimy creatures, but we're slowly but surely getting them presentable. However, now they're so afraid of environmental problems that we have "approved" roads and pathways. But I honestly believe that if you were to walk up to the main shop, they'd probably give you a very "UNOFFICIAL" short tour; one absolute rule - wear a hard hat! Please, please, do not take this as gospel or a blanket invitation. The watch-word is discretion.

They usually run about two T&T sessions a year; I suspect they may have another one in September or October, but no guarantees. As long as we have our photo expert and our staff organizer around, we should be OK.

heyrob Loc: Western Washington

Awesome, thanks for the info.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

For those of you planning to attend T&T, I'm pleased to announce an additional "post-event" event. This is a chance to spend additional time in the museum at no additional charge. But please remember that after the museum opens at 10:00AM, tripods are not allowed. However, if the legs of your tripod are folded and/or strapped together, it will be considered a monopod, which is allowed. If you have any questions, please ask a T&T event docent.

Please note that, although the excursion train will be operating on schedule, Saturday and Sunday, from 11:00AM until 5:00 PM, excursion rides are NOT free; Normal fares or Museum membership are required to ride.

FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE RAILROAD MUSEUM FOUNDATION:

National Train Day
SACRAMENTO

The California State Railroad Museum will proudly celebrate the 5th Annual National Train Day by offering free Museum admission, tours of modern-day Amtrak/Amtrak California passenger cars and special rail-related activiteis inside and outside the Museum!

In addition to an already impressive collection of lavishly restored trains and engaging exhibits, visitors to the Railroad Museum will enjoy fun, hands-on activities for the entire family.
Free admission to the Railroad Museum
Free admission to the nearby Sacramento History Museum
Free Handcar rides
Children's "Chuggington Station" activity area
And much more!

Guests will have the opportunity to tour sleek, comfortable Amtrak/Amtrak California passenger cars and experience what train travel is like today, while also exploring decades of rail transportation history that literally transformed America. Learn more about train travel options in California by watching short films, browsing timetables and travel literature, and talking with rail transportation providers. Impressive railroad equipment from the Museum's collection of vintage locomotives and railroad cars will also be part of the celebratory event. Always popular, rides aboard the Museum's Interpretive Handcar and a children's "Chuggington Station" activity area will all be part of the fun on this special day.

While visiting the Railroad Museum on National Train Day, guests are encouraged to make a special stop to see the "Lost Spike" - a virtual and all-but-forgotten twin of the famous "Golden Spike" - that is on permanent display. Immediately adjacent to the "Lost Spike" is the epic 19th century oil painting "The Last Spike," created by artist Thomas Hill; the very first locomotive of the Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific No. 1 Gov. Stanford; and many other artifacts and exhibits covering railroad history and the diverse workers who built and maintained and operated California's railroads.

For more information call 916-445-6645 or visit www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org.

PM me if you have any questions. Thank you. Mogul 8-)