Sac History Happenings: Railtown recruiting volunteers and offering special shop tour

Sac History Happenings

News and developments in Sacramento and California history

February 5, 2011

Railtown recruiting volunteers and offering special shop tour

Okay history fans: where in Northern California can see a 19th century train that's appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, such as Petticoat Junction, Wild Wild West, Back to the Future Part III and Unforgiven?

It's the Railtown 1897 Historic State Park in Jamestown (Tuolumne County), home to the preserved trains, repair shops and roundhouse of the Sierra Railway. It's a great attraction for railroad buffs. You can even take a short ride behind a vintage steam-powered locomotive.

On Feb. 8 Railtown is offering a special behind-the-scenes shop tour. This is a good opportunity to see ongoing restoration projects, as well as the recently restored Sierra No. 3, the "Movie Star" engine. The tour will go from 10 to 12 p.m. and the cost is included with park admission: $5 for adults, $3 for youths ages 6-17, children under five, free.

Railtown is also recruiting volunteers to serve as Car Hosts, Ticket Agents, Tour Guides, Public Greeters, and Fire Patrol Operators (entry level engine crew). No previous experience is required, but you must submit an application by Feb. 20 to be considered for volunteer training beginning in March. Interested people are invited to a Volunteer Open House (Feb. 12 at 10 a.m.) where you can learn more about the park and its activities.

For more information about the Railtown Shop Tour and volunteering, call 209-984-3953 or visit www.railtown1897.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: The restored Sierra No 3 steam engine emerges from the roundhouse at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, Calif., July 2010. AP Photo by Rich Pedroncelli.

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California and Sacramento have a long, rich, vibrant history. And our region is blessed with an abundance of historical resources maintained by museums, libraries, archives and societies. This blog aims to alert readers to the latest developments in local/state historical education and research.

Send tips concerning upcoming exhibits, tours, lectures and meetings, as well as new books, magazine articles and online collections to the blog's contributors.

The Contributors:

Michael Dolgushkin

Michael Dolgushkin is Manuscript Librarian at the California State Library History Section. He is co-author of San Francisco's California Street Cable Cars and is a frequent contributor to the California State Library Foundation Bulletin. Contact him at mdolgushkin@library.ca.gov.

Amanda Graham is a Certified Archivist working in the Sacramento Room of the Sacramento Public Library. She earned a BS in History from Southern Oregon University and a MS in Information Studies with an emphasis in archives from The University of Texas at Austin. Contact her at agraham@saclibrary.org.

Pete Basofin is Director of Editorial Research at The Sacramento Bee. He previously worked at The St. Petersburg Times and Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune. Contact him at pbasofin@sacbee.com.

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