Guided Amtrak Trip Over Cuesta - Thursday

Thursday, March 27   2:00pm - 5:00pm

Travel via Amtrak over and through the Santa Lucia mountains from San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station to Paso Robles. Guided narration will be provided during the trip as we travel over trestles, through tunnels and take in the views of this historic 1894 Southern Pacific route. 

Bus transportation back to SLO Amtrak Station is included. You will need to provide your own transportation to the SLO Amtrak Station.

THIS EXCURSION IS LIMITED TO 30 PEOPLE. First cutoff is September 16, 2024 or when we reach 30 people.

Guided Amtrak Trip Over Cuesta - Friday

Friday, March 28   2:00pm - 5:00pm

Our Thursday excursion was so popular we added another!!

Travel via Amtrak over and through the Santa Lucia mountains from San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station to Paso Robles. Guided narration will be provided during the trip as we travel over trestles, through tunnels and take in the views of this historic 1894 Southern Pacific route. 

Bus transportation back to SLO Amtrak Station is included. You will need to provide your own transportation to the SLO Amtrak Station.

THIS EXCURSION IS LIMITED TO 30 PEOPLE. We need to have at least 20 people signed up to schedule this excursion.  If we do not meet the minimum, the excursion will be canceled and your money will be refunded. 

Tour of Santa Maria Valley Railroad Shops

Saturday, March 29   1:00pm - 4:00pm

This is a chance to visit the shops and yard of this shortline and see up close how a railroad operates. Saturday is one of the railroad’s light duty days so most if not all of the locomotives will be present. They currently have one GP35, one GP9, and two GE 70-tonners.

Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required for the tour. This will be in the regular work area of the shops. The tour will be about three hours long. 

You will need to provide your own transportation from the Embassy Suites to the SMV which is about 35 miles from from the Embassy Suites Hotel. Directions to the SMV yard will be distributed to those who have signed up for the tour. 

THIS TOUR IS LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS

Bittercreek Western Railroad and Norgrove Railway Tour

Friday, March 29   1:00pm - 5:00pm

This tour will offer train rides at both locations and a tour of the shops at Norgrove Railway.  Bittercreek Western Railroad is a privately owned and operated, 7.5 inch gauge railroad with 1.2 miles of mainline. The Norgrove Railway is a 2-ft. narrow gauge line that supports the Norgrove Garden vineyards and orchards.

Sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. Attendees will be required to provide their own transportation from the hotel.  The railroads are about 20 miles from the hotel. Carpools are recommended and directions will be provided to those registered for the tour. 

Make and Take Clinic - Small Office/Store Structure

Build a small office or store structure using a printed paper building, and enhance it with some Cricut cut parts and some 3D printed parts. Paper buildings are inexpensive and quick to build, and you may be able to finish the structure during the clinic. 

Participants are required to bring their own tools. Required tools are a self-healing cutting mat, Xacto type knife with a new #11 blade, and a steel straight edge. Optional tools are an opti-visor, a metal square, Xacto #17 chisel blade, ruler. Remaining tools and materials will be supplied.