News from the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum Issue Number 51 San Luis Obispo, California, Winter 2014-15 www.slorrm.com Restoring Caboose 1886 Left to Right: Kristen Kopp, Arnold Jonas, Bill Schroll, Jim Anderson, Brad LaRose, and Andrew Merriam at the presentation of donation from Phillips 66. Phillips 66 Donates to Museum The Continuing History of Oil Museum Curator Brad LaRose is fol- lowing several leads in search of such The Pacific Coast Railway may have a car. The rest will be spent in devel- been the only narrow-gauge line that oping an historic portrayal in model depended on three traffic sources other form covering the extraction, trans- than mining or lumbering: agricultur- Don Druse and Martin Flores of Rick portation, and refining of oil on the Engineering presented Brad LaRose al products, passengers, and . oil. Central Coast. In addition to the mod- with a check to reupholster one of the From the early 1900s to the present, els there will be a video program using chairs in the #1886 caboose. railroads have been key in moving both photos and narration. In December crude oil and various petroleum prod- 2014, the Phillips 66 Santa Maria YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TO RESTORE ucts within and through the Central Refinery Manager Bill Schroll for- Coast region. The Museum has long SOUTHERN PACIFIC CABOOSE #1886 mally presented the donation to planned to incorporate this significant Your assistance is greatly needed to Museum directors Karl Hovanitz, industry into exhibits and displays. make this quickly evolving restoration Arnold Jonas, Brad LaRose, and These efforts received very significant take place this spring. This caboose Andrew Merriam. Phillips 66 will be support when the Phillips 66 Company was last operated by Southern Pacific recognized as a model scene sponsor donated $30,000 to the Museum. About Railroad on November 15, 1995 on the and a museum patron for this generous half of the funds will be used for the pur- Lompoc /White Hills Branch. The muse- contribution. chase, restoration, and display of a um is working hard to complete the interior restoration of the caboose and 1940s Southern Pacific oil tank car. Reported by Diane Marchetti and Glen Matteson we are making great progress. Preparation of the walls for painting is almost complete. Parts for the stove and refrigerator have been obtained and installed. Lighting fixtures have been removed and restored and the missing conductor’s desk lamp has been replaced with an identical lamp that is new old stock! We are moving very fast so that this caboose can be available as our newest large exhibit. To be com- pleted, we need your immediate help. There are six chairs in this caboose Photo by Glen Matteson along with the conductor’s desk. All of The Lark passes a string on Southern Pacific tank cars on the Museum HO scale layout. Continued on page 3 Renew your membership The following people have joined the The Museum exists thanks to con- San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum tinued member support. All annual since the last Coast Mail was published. memberships expire on December 31. Dan Begalla, James F. Collins, Stanley If you have not already renewed, please H. Gitler, Bill Goodenough, Stephen provide your payment and any changes Hager, Richard Harris, Jim Hawk, to your contact information: phone num- Henry Hubbard, Tom Machut, Matthew ber, and U.S. mail and email address. Metoyer, Stan Rothwell and Jay Wiese. Mission Statement You can renew online through the Museum’s website or checks may be mailed to the Museum. If renewing online, you can provide updated contact information by phone message to 805 548-1894 or email to [email protected] The Museum will never share your contact information. To renew your membeship online using a credit or debit card, go to www.slorrm.com and click on MEM- SAN LUIS OBISPO RAILROAD MUSEUM BERSHIP, then click on SUBSCRIBE BOARD OF DIRECTORS and fill out the PayPal form. Become a Member The following families have renewed their membership. Luther and Betsy Bertrando, William Bordeaux and Family, David and Aurelie Boyer, Robert and Kathleen Copeland, Paul and Dorothy Dies, Ryan Dora, Carl and Robin Dudley, Laura Frank and Eric Wier, Suzette Girouard, Harry and Mary Harlow, Karl and Stephanie Hovanitz, and Bernie and Susan Kempker. TIMETABLE New Sustaining Members Marty Hurwitz, and Erik Rheinisch have become sustaining members. Renewing Sustaining Members Marilyn Darnell, Harry J. Garvin, Jr., Life Members receive an embroidered James Keene, and Christian Rheinish patch, enameled pin, the Coast Mail have renewed as sustaining members. newsletter, and have voting rights for one person for life. Spouse and depend- New Life Members ent children under the age of 18 are Aaron Bergantz and Hillary Amborn, included as members. Use current age Sheila Campbell, Kim Froom, Tom and to calculate amount due. Debbie Grozan, Dwight Hudson, Chris 40-65................. $1200 or5 payments of $275 Hurd, Anita Walter and Karl Kvilvang. BY-LAWS AVAILABLE 66andolder............ $800 or5 payments of $180 Every member in good standing is entitled to a copyofthe San Luis Obispo Company Store Railroad Museum By-laws. For the sake of economy, we have not distributed them to all members automatically To get a copy, send a #10, self addressed stamped envelope to SLORRM, Post Office Box 13260, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 or go online to www.slorrm.com under the members only section. At the general membership meeting procuring and maintaining major arti- on January 13, 2015, two new Board facts for the Museum. If Brad is around members, Erik Rheinisch and Glen the next time you come by the Museum, Matteson, were seated. They had been ask him to show you the work he has elected by the general membership to done on the #1886 Caboose. fill vacant positions. Both new Board Arnold Jonas has retired from the members look forward to improving Board and becomes a Board Member and expanding museum exhibits and Emeritus . Arnold has been our programs. Membership Chairman, and addition- The Board elected Karl Hovanitz ally has guided us through the many Reason to celebrate President and Gary See Vice President. negotiations with local government bod- This January, for the first time, the Both are long-time Museum members, ies. We are thankful for his knowledge museum provided a venue for a birth- Karl having a wealth of local and gen- and willingness to work tirelessly to day party. eral railroad knowledge and Gary has bring the Museum to life. Young partygoers and their parents provided first-class technical support We welcome to two new members to and grandparents set up on the and signal experience. Dave Rohr will the SLORRM Board of Directors. Museum platform in the warm sun- continue to serve as Treasurer, and Andrew Merriam as Secretary. Glen Matteson is the Museum shine, and excitement was felt by all as Archivist for some time. He has over- the Surfliner went by. While in the The following chairmanships for seen the organization of the reference Museum, the children enjoyed the working committees have been con- library. This involved many hours of newly expanded play area while parents firmed. Members with an interest in studying historic and donated materi- got to relax. The Museum’s lounge- helping with any of these topics are als and arranging them in a way that observation car was open for docent- encouraged to contact committee chairs allows them to be used for study. He is escorted visits and picture taking on the through e-mail [email protected] or a major part of our “Train Tales” pro- car’s platform. telephone 805 548-1894. However, it’s gram. Glen puts much thought into his The Museum is making the Freight- not necessary to be a committee mem- interviews of local railroad workers and house, and eventually the observation ber to participate. Additional docents finds a way to bring out their memories car, available for events such as birth- and equipment restoration workers in of “what it used to be like.” particular are always welcome. days, anniversaries and informational Erik Rheinisch, is the son of the late meetings. Usage fees will help with Budget and Finance - Dave Rohr Frank Rheinisch, a former Board funding Museum operations and Facilities and Operations - Gary See member. He has decided to continue a restoration efforts. For availability and Membership Services and Board family tradition, and join us as a Board fees, contact Museum Manager Diane Development - John Marchetti member. He owns Alpha Fire & Exhibits - Aron Kahn Security Alarm Corporation which at [email protected] Events and Public Relations donated all the fire safety and securi- - Tom Mitchell ty systems to the Museum. We are very Curation and Archives - Glen Matteson pleased to have him join us. CABOOSE REHAB Continued Equipment and Restoration Don’t let this be the last the upholstery on the chairs and on the - Ted VanKlaveren and Brad LaRose side of the desk was slashed and Model Railroad - Andrew Merriam Coast Mail that you see! destroyed by transients who broke into At a previous meeting Brad LaRose This is the last Museum newsletter the car. We will only be able to salvage was formally designated Curator, a issue to be mailed to members in paper two arm rests. This is where you can position he has filled informally for form. You may request a paper copy by help restore the caboose. We need mem- many years. sending a message to the Museum by bers and friends to sponsor a chair or e-mail at [email protected] or tele- We thank two long-time Board mem- phone 805 548-1894 and leave a mes- desk so these artifacts can be reuphol- bers who have stepped aside.