Sacramento Daylight at Lathrop with boiler-equipped GP9 3010. June 22, 1969. Photo by R.J. Zenk.
Southern Pacific
Historical & Technical Society
2010 Annual Conference
Sacramento, California
September 29 - October 2, 2010
NEW: Download printable brochure and registration form!
View photos from past conventions!
Convention headquarters will be the Doubletree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, near the State Fairgrounds and the Arden Mall. When making your reservations — (916) 929-8855 — use code number SPH to receive the $105 SPH&TS single/double nightly rate. The theme of the convention will be the Sacramento Daylight, train Nos. 53 & 54, which ran right up to Amtrak. For nearly a decade, GP9 3010 was the regular locomotive for this run — it's the "3010 in 2010!"
Sacramento is, of course, the birthplace of what became the Southern Pacific System, and is famous for the California State Railroad Museum, widely regarded as the finest and most-visited railroad museum in North America. Throughout the main building there are 21 restored locomotives and cars and numerous interactive exhibits that illustrate how railroads have shaped peoples lives, the economy and the unique culture of California and the West. Additional historic locomotives, railroad cars and exhibits on the transcontinental railroad and 19th-century rail travel are housed in the reconstructed 1876 Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station next to the freight depot. The CSRM Library contains a wide range of books, periodicals, railroad association and union publications, government documents and trade catalogues as well as extensive photograph, drawing, map, manuscript and ephemera collections.
Thursday will begin the round of clinics, dealer sales and contests throughout the day.
Attention Modelers & Photographers: Receive a $10 cash rebate at the convention when you enter either the model or photography contest. (Limit one rebate per attendee.)
That evening, buses will depart for Woodland where, for a nominal extra fare, we will board the Sacramento River Dinner Train. The clinics, dealer sales and contests will continue on Friday. Friday evening will be the Old timers talk, or you can take a self-guided layout tour. Saturday the hotel activities will continue with the Board of Directors and General Membership meetings. After the meetings a bus will depart for an extra fare trip to Amador County wineries, which will be in full production with the grape harvest. Saturday night wraps things up with a no-host cocktail party and the banquet. Speakers will be Dave Bowler and Lonnie Dickson, currently Managers of Operating Practices for UP. Both men hired on with SP in the 1960s and were promoted to locomotive engineers, spending much of their time on Donner Pass. As managers, both have been instrumental in keeping Donner open during the rough winter months and will have quite a few stories to tell!
Presentations
We are pleased to offer the following presentations:
| Randy Cape | Detouring Trains in Sacramento |
| Jeff Cauthen/Don Munger | The Overland/Trains 27-28 |
| Paul Chandler | The Lathrop Subdivision — Prototype and Modeling |
| Bob Church | The Great Basin |
| Dick Dorn | Four Seasons on Donner Pass |
| Vic Neves | The Bay Area in the 50s, with photos from John Harder and Harre Demoro |
| Richard Newkirk | Modeling Gerber to Black Butte in HO |
| Bob Pecotich | Sacramento Shops |
| Don Shortt | Northern California Passenger Excursions |
| John Signor | Working Tracy |
| Duncan Still | Steam Operations over Donner in 1943 |
| Kerry Sullivan | 1951 Valley Boulevard Train Wreck |
| Tony Thompson | SP Tank Cars/Prototype and Modeling |
Special Tours (Extra Fare)
Wednesday September 29th: SOLD OUT! Vince, the "Godfather," Cipolla will be hosting three private tours of the AC12 cab forward at the California State Railroad Museum. Vince, one of few engineers still alive that ran the ACs, will explain the mechanics and operation of the locomotive, from a first hand perspective. Transportation will be provided.
Thursday, September 30th: Enjoy the sunset across the Sacramento Valley as you ride and dine on the Sacramento River Dinner Train. Join us for a 32 mile, 3.5 hour round-trip excursion from Woodland to the outskirts of West Sacramento as we travel over the former Sacramento Northern Railway Woodland Branch, now owned and operated by the Sierra Northern Railroad. This historic line, completed in July 1912 by the Sacramento & Woodland Railroad and absorbed into the Northern Electric Railway, has seen continuous freight service since its inception. Union Pacific local freights replaced SN trains after the 1982 takeover of the Western Pacific. The line was sold to the Yolo Shortline in 1992 and passed onto the Sierra Northern in 2003. Our train, pulled by a former SP GP9, will feature open air and enclosed coaches and a no-host bar car. Former Canadian National observation car Burrard and a former New York Central sleeper-lounge will bring up the rear of our train and will be available for seating at a premium rate (which will also include a cab ride for a limited number of alcohol-free individuals). Dinner will be served buffet style featuring barbeque tri-tip and chicken, along with sides, dessert and beverage. Our buses will leave the Doubletree Hotel at 5:00 p.m. and return at approximately 11:00 p.m. Prices include bus transportation, train ride and dinner. Note: No other activity is planned for Thursday evening.
Saturday, October 2nd: Immediately following the General Membership Meeting, a bus will depart for the 50-minute drive to the wine region of Amador County, nestled in the scenic Sierra foothills and a visit to the beautiful Villa Toscano and Bella Piazza wineries. A 30-minute tour of Villa Toscano will be followed by tasting at both establishments. Those desiring lunch may purchase food at Villa Toscano's bistro (not included with tour price). Return to the Doubletree Hotel will be approximately 5:00 p.m. This tour will be limited to the first 50 registrants.
Self Guided Tours:
Friday, October 1st: A total of eight layouts in the greater Sacramento region will be open for viewing. One of these, the Sacramento Model Railroad Historical Society, will be offering a barbeque dinner beginning at 5:00 p.m. for those wishing to start the tour on a full stomach. Open layouts include:
Sacramento Model RR Historical Society, featuring two operating railroads — an HO layout depicting WP's Feather River Canyon and Espee's Cal-P line from Sacramento to Oakland, and an HOn3 layout depicting Colorado and New Mexico.
The Rocklin Subdivision, Dave Houston's HO layout featuring SP Coast Line and Donner Pass railroading, set in the late 1950s. (pictured at right)
Twenty-Six Street Model Engineers, Keith Brownfield and friends have created an HO freelanced Pacific Northwest layout.
Tom Weissgerber's HO railroad, featuring the Union Pacific from Portland to Pocatello, through the Columbia Gorge.
The Oahu Sierra Railroad, built by Bill Eversult, it depicts Donner Pass, between Roseville and Truckee, in the late 1940s. This HO layout also features the narrow gauge line from Camino to Pino Grande.
Santa Fe's Hereford Subdivision is Robert Hoffman's HO creation, covering Clovis, New Mexico to Amarillo, Texas, set in the Autumn of 1985, complete with signal system. (pictured at right)
The Central Valley RR; a freelanced HO railroad, set in the 1970s, featuring the work of Ron Kerekes and friends.
Hal Heidrich's, a contemporary HO pike which is home to UP, ATSF, SP, and BNSF trains traveling over a freelanced design.
Saturday, October 2nd: Spend the afternoon visiting and riding with the Sacramento Valley Live Steamers in nearby Rancho Cordova. Steam and diesel powered trains will be running over their lengthy railroad, and we've requested "extra SP power" for the event. A snack bar will be available for a light lunch.
Hotel Reservations
Doubletree Hotel, Sacramento — (916) 929-8855
The Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society's 2010 Annual Meeting will be held at the Doubletree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, California from September 29th to October 2nd. The Doubletree (916) 929-8855 is located near the State Fairgrounds and the Arden Mall. When you make your reservations, use code number SPH to ask for the $105 SPH&TS single/double nightly rate.
Upcoming Conventions
