Our 8th Annual Dinner Gala and Auction
was a success -- THANK YOU everyone !


The 8th Annual Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Dinner Gala and Fundraiser was held on Saturday May 20, 2023. The fundraising efforts raised money for the acquisition of a historical marker commemorating the historic Santa Maria Rail Corridor.

Saturday night’s program included several award presentations.

The G.A. Hancock History Presentation Award was awarded to Tom Gray of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad for acquiring SMV No. 100 steam locomotive and is in the process of rebuilding the locomotive for excursion operations this year. Presenting the award was Garret Matsuura, Director of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, and G.A. Hancock’s great grand children Jane Brennan and Steve Brennan. Accepting the award was Kyle Preston, a former colleague of Jared Bisson, the Chief Mechanical Officer of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad who is tasked with refurbishing SMV No. 100. The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad honors Tom Gray and the Virginia and Truckee Railroad for preserving a piece of Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s history.

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad awarded the 9th Annual Public Safety Award to Acquistapace Farms. The Santa Maria Valley Railroad Annual Public Safety Award is awarded to a person or organization who promotes railroad public safety. Acquistapace Farms worked together with the Santa Maria Valley Railroad to relocate a private crossing that accesses their farm near the corner of Betteravia Road and Simas Road. The Santa Maria Valley Railroad received a grant from the State of California to replace the main line track with heavy rail and new ties. A new crossing was installed during the track rehabilitation project with the railroad providing panels. Acquistapace Farms went above and beyond as they cleaned out weeds and vegetation along the right of way enhancing safety along the right of way.

The Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a degree or technical training in the Industrial Arts. The scholarship is geared to students pursuing a career in transportation, industrial or manufacturing industries. The first annual Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship award winner is Yahir Chavez. Presenters for the scholarship award was Garret Matsuura, Director of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, and Gary See, Secretary of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.

The fundraiser raised over $5,600.00 towards the acquisition of a historical marker commemorating the historic Santa Maria Rail Corridor. The Pacific Coast Railway was the first railroad to arrive in Santa Maria. The narrow gauge railroad started at Port Hartford, now Avila Beach to San Luis Obispo and then headed south eventually to Los Olivos. The line, built by the Chinese, arrived in Santa Maria in April 1882. Santa Maria now had freight and passenger access to the Central Coast. Agriculture and oil grew in the Santa Maria area after the railroad was completed. The Santa Maria Valley Railroad was started in 1911 and eventually overtook the Pacific Coast Railway as the SMVRR was standard gauge and goods were interchanged to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Pacific Coast Railway ceased operations in 1940 and in 1942 the Santa Maria Valley Railroad acquired a portion the of the PCR for access to the new Army Airbase. The line is now known as the Airbase Branch and is the only PCRy right of way still operating as a railroad. The historical marker along the Airbase Branch will educate the public about the rich history of this corridor.

The Gala Main event sponsors were the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, G.A. Hancock Family, Viper Railcar Storage, Cool Hand Luke’s, and Santa Maria Fairpark.

The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad as well as educating the public about the railroad industry.












G.A. Hancock History Presentation Award to
Virginia and Truckee Railroad





Public Safety Award to Acquistapace Farms





Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship award to Yahir Chavez