The Schedule of Events for November 16th is listed below. All events may be subject to change or reschedule. Museum Grounds Open at 9:00 AM.
All-Day Activities:
California State Railroad Museum rail mounted firetruck: MW 1004 – this rail mounted fire truck once protected the Carriso Gorge and its redwood lined tunnels and timber trestles from annihilation by fire. This firetruck hasn’t been on the San Diego & Arizona Railway for nearly forty years!
1902 American steam fire engine with Dottie the Dalmatian – several demonstrations of this vehicle in action will occur
Chula Vista Live Steamers will host 7 1/2″ gage operating trains
Dr. Solar’s Gypsy Wagon with two performances
National Model Railroad Society will present their modular layout in the Display Building
Model A and Model T Fords and Horseless Carriages on Display
Hay-wagon rides between the Campo Depot and the Display Building/Re-enactment site
Local history groups will be on hand to educate and inform
Exhibits on the history of the SD&A and other railroads
USPS Campo Postmaster will be on hand to sell Gold Spike stamps and other commemoratives
Vintage railroad equipment: steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, boxcars, cabooses and more
9 am – 5 pm The Chula Vista Live Steamers will exhibit and demonstrate a 7 1/2″ gauge operating steam locomotive
9 am – 5 pm The National Model Railroad Association will host a modular layout with operating trains in the Display Building
9 am – 5 pm Clowns Rusty and Roxy will entertain guests young and old with face painting, balloon twisting and more
9:30 am Plaque Dedication celebrating the 100th anniversary of the San Diego & Arizona Railway completion – placed by the Native Sons of the Golden West to document this significant milestone
9:45 am 1902 steam-powered firefighting pump. Watch a lively demonstration featuring a meticulously restored firefighting pump as the fire crew demonstrates how to tame even the most horrible blaze with the implements in use over a century ago. Be careful where you stand to view the action – you might get wet! Stop by during the day for pictures and a meet-and-greet with Dottie the firehouse Dalmatian
10:00 am Trails and Rails will perform western and train songs at various times throughout the day. They are an award-winning musical act that entertains with toe-tapping enthusiasm and audience-pleasing commentary to supplement their songs
11:00 am Centennial Train I ($) departs the Campo Depot, with boarding by 10:45 am. First class car, Union Pacific #576 and SD&A coach tickets are still available. Pick up your keepsake item(2) when you check-in at the Campo Depot. Ride a portion of the original San Diego & Arizona Railway through the high desert. Train tickets can be purchased here.
11:45 am Dr. Solar‘s Good-Time, Sunshine, Traveling Medicine Show will take the stage with a mix of magic, curiosity, ventriloquism, and more. You can read more about the show at https://www.drsolar.com/.
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Lunch catered by Descanso Junction Catering ($, advance reservations). Pulled pork sandwich, gourmet hot dog, hamburger, or veggie burger, plus coleslaw and French fries, soda or water. Lunch tickets can be purchased here.
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Live music by the San Diego City Guard Band
1:00 pm GOLD SPIKE CEREMONY AND REENACTMENT. Visitors will assemble in front of the Display Building for a modern-day ceremony and historic reenactment of John D. Spreckels driving the Gold Spike in Carriso Gorge. Speakers will include PSRM leadership, government officials, and contemporary railroad executives from San Diego County, Imperial County, and Baja California, Mexico. Rumor has it that the day will be officially declared “San Diego & Arizona Railway Day” in San Diego County!
The reenactment will include excerpts from speeches given on November 15, 1919, at the original Gold Spike Ceremony. John D. Spreckels will drive the gold spike to signify the completion of the last link in an American transcontinental rail network. (Yes, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is in possession of that original spike that John D. Spreckels used to mark the completion of his “Impossible Railroad!”) Some of Spreckels’ descendants will join us as honored guests. The San Diego City Guard Band will perform the San Diego Progress March, written for the original occasion 100 years ago and performed then by the 1919 version of the San Diego City Guard Band.
2:30 pm 1902 steam-powered firefighting pump. Watch a lively demonstration featuring a meticulously restored firefighting pump as the fire crew demonstrates how fires were extinguished in bygone times with the implements in use over a century ago. Stop by during the day for pictures and a meet-and-greet with Dottie the firehouse Dalmatian.
3 pm Centennial Train II ($) departs the Campo Depot, with boarding by 2:45 pm. First class car, Union Pacific #576 and SD&A coach tickets are still available. Pick up your keepsake item(2) when you check-in at the Campo Depot. Ride a portion of the original San Diego & Arizona Railway through the high desert. Train tickets can be purchased here.
3:45 pm Dr. Solar‘s Good-Time, Sunshine, Traveling Medicine Show will take the stage with a mix of magic, curiosity, ventriloquism, and more. You can read more about the show at https://www.drsolar.com/.
5 pm The Campo Railroad Park and Museum closes.
SD&A Centennial Calendar of Events