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Santa Maria Valley Railroad

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Santa Maria Valley Railroad
Overview
HeadquartersSanta Maria, California
Reporting markSMV
LocaleSanta Barbara County, California
Dates of operation1911 (1911)–present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Other
Websitewww.smvrr.com

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad (reporting mark SMV) is a 14.8 miles (23.8 km) shortline railroad that interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad's (former Southern Pacific) Coast Line at Guadalupe, California. As of 2006, the Railroad is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.

Traffic

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The TRC handles 2,000 cars annually (1996 estimate). Commodities hauled include:

Prior traffic included:

Passenger Service

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Special passenger service was only offered during World War II on the Air Base branch to transport military personnel to the Santa Maria Army Air Base for training. The Air Base branch was constructed in 1943. Excursions were offered for the first time on the SMVRR in November 2006, continuing into 2007.

History

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The SMV was incorporated on July 14, 1911 as the Santa Maria Valley Railway at Los Angeles, California with A. A. Dougherty listed as President.[1]

The first 3.26 miles (5.25 km) of track, from the Southern Pacific connection at Guadalupe to Betteravia Junction, was actually built by the SP in August 1899 to get to a sugar mill. The SP leased the track to the SMV years later. From Betteravia the SMV built to Santa Maria and on to Roadamite. The SMV also had branches running from Stowell to Air Base, Suey to Rosemary Farms and Rex to Gates.

By 1925 the railway traffic had steeply declined and the railway went bankrupt. Captain George Allan Hancock [1], a principal of the Dominion Oil Company, purchased the railroad for $75,000 at a Sheriff's auction. The railroad was then reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in 1926. Until 2006, the railroad was owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock's estate.

The original line ran for 23 miles (37 km), from Guadalupe to Roadamite. The track from Gates to Roadamite was abandoned in 1950.

The last run of No. 21, Captain Hancock's favorite steam locomotive, was in February 1962. Captain Hancock took the throttle one last time. Walt Disney was in the cab with Captain Hancock.

Baldwin 21 currently is undergoing restoration in Astoria, Oregon to be returned to excursion service.

The Union Sugar Beet plant closed in 1993, ending the beet train era.

In 1999 the G. Allan Hancock Estate gained full control of the SMV. The assets of the railroad were sold to Coast Belle Rail Corporation in 2006, ending an 81-year ownership by the Hancock family.

Other than No. 21, three other steam locomotives are in existence. Following a successful 38 year restoration, the Baldwin Locomotive Works 1924-built No. 205 was sold to the Albany and Eastern Railroad in Lebanon, Oregon and is used on the Santiam Excursion Trains.[2] No. 100 is in Nevada, but has not yet entered restoration by the Virginia and Truckee. No. 1000 resides on Static Display in Griffith Park at Travel Town.

Timeline

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  • July 14, 1911 Santa Maria Valley Railway organized
  • August 23, 1911 grading commenced
  • September 28, 1911 laying rails commenced
  • March 15, 1912 construction completed
  • October 7, 1911 first train operated
  • 1926 Santa Maria Valley Railway reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
  • 1950 track abandoned between Gates and Roadamite
  • 2006 Purchased by the Coast Belle Rail Corp. from the descendants of G.A. Hancock family
  • 2008 All track east of McClelland Street now vacated. Offices moved to Betteravia Industrial Park (at the site of the old sugar mill).

Route

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Route in 1931

Main Route

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  • Guadalupe (interchange with UP - former SP) originally leased to SMV by SP.
  • Betteravia Junction
  • Carr
  • Pacer
  • Midco
  • Santa Maria

Air Base Branch (Santa Maria Army Air Base)

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  • Santa Maria
  • Airbase (also with a spur to Pesco)

Betteravia Branch

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Rosemary Branch (abandoned)

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  • Santa Maria
  • Suey
  • Rosemary (Rosemary Farms)
  • Battles

Gates Branch (abandoned)

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  • Rosemary (named after owner G. Allan Hancock's daughter)
  • Rex
  • Gates
  • Roadamite (Gates - Roadamite abandoned in 1950)

Motive Power

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The SMV has 5 locomotives:

The SMV operated five 70 ton switchers and one U6B that were acquired between 1948-1959.

Complete roster of Locomotives Owned by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
# Builder SN Type Built Acq' Ret' Dispoistion Notes
1 Schenectady 1588 4-6-0 9/1882 1911 1913 Scrapped Was Southern Pacific of Arizona #69.
1 (2nd) Baldwin 31418 2-8-0 8/1907 1913 1925 to #15 Originally Tonopah & Tidewater #5, purchased from that road
2 Baldwin 29312 2-6-0 8/1906 1913 1925 to #12 Originally Tonopah & Tidewater #4, purchased from that road
12 Baldwin 29312 2-6-0 8/1906 1925 1937 Scrapped Previously #2
15 Baldwin 31418 2-8-0 8/1907 1925 1933 Scrapped Previously #1
21 Baldwin 58638 2-8-2 4/1925 1925 1962 Stored New. Leased to Shasta-McCloud Steam Rail Tour in 1966. See history. Being restored in Astoria, OR
100 Baldwin 59284 2-8-2 6/1926 1942 1962 Sold Was Pope & Talbot, Inc. Sold to White Mountain Scenic RR. See history. Under restoration at Virginia and Truckee Railroad
125 Baldwin 52790 2-6-2 1/1920 Unk 1947 Scrapped Was Columbia & Nehalem River #125
150 Baldwin 55804 2-8-2 11/1922 Unk 1951 Scrapped Was Vance Lumber Company #4
205 Baldwin 57613 2-6-2 1/1924 1933 1950 Operational Was San Joaquin & Eastern #205. Donated to 37th Agricultural District. See history. Restored. At Albany & Eastern Railroad in Lebanon, Oregon [3]
1000 Alco Schenectady 61535 2-8-2 1/1920 1944 1954 Donated Was Newaukum Valley #1000. Donated to Travel Town Museum. See history.
10 General Electric 30019 70-ton 6/1948 1948 Scrapped
20 General Electric 30176 70-ton 7/1948 1948 Sold Sold to Peninsula Terminal
30 General Electric 30447 70-ton 8/1950 1950 2000 Sold Sold to Nevada Northern, soon sold to Colorado, Kansas & Pacific Railroad
40 General Electric 31282 70-ton 3/1952 1952 2000 Sold Sold to Nevada Northern, soon sold to Colorado, Kansas & Pacific Railroad
50 General Electric 31283 70-ton 3/1952 1952 Sold Sold to Peninsula Terminal
60 General Electric 33494 U6B 5/1959 1959 1992 Scrapped
70 General Electric 30381 70-ton 1/1950 1972 Operational Was Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern #411
80 General Electric 32207 70-ton 12/1953 1972 Operational Was Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern #401
1801 EMD 59E-90 GP9 6/1959 1992 Operational Was Great Western of Colorado #1801

Roster from the Friends of the SMV: https://friends-smvrr.org/images/history/SMVRR-roster.pdf

Also see The Diesel Shop Roster: https://www.thedieselshop.us/SMVR.HTML

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Santa Maria Valley Railroad on a roll and on track for a bright future - KEYT". www.keyt.com. Archived from the original on 2019-05-29.
  2. ^ https://www.lebanonlocalnews.com/train-enthusiasts-celebrate-steam-locomotives-100th/
  3. ^ https://www.lebanonlocalnews.com/train-enthusiasts-celebrate-steam-locomotives-100th/
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Additional reading

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