Right on Track
Rail Corridor Ribbon Cutting

A community event to commemorate public ownership and demonstrate potential use of the rail corridor

On Saturday, November 17, 2012, the RTC joined the community of Santa Cruz County to commemorate the public ownership of the Santa Cruz Branch Rail line. At five whistle stops in communities along the line, hundreds of citizens joined together to learn about the range of mobility options and opportunities for the 32-mile rail corridor and to witness Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway/Iowa Pacific’s train roll through the county. Over a thousand people took free train rides from the West side of Santa Cruz up the coast. A rainy morning turned in to a beautiful day for riding the train!

Many thanks to all of the event sponsors, co-hosts, presenters, speakers, and volunteers that made this event possible!

Ribbon Cuttings/Whistle Stops

Each event had its own local flavor and featured history, music, light refreshments, train whistles and a ticket give-away.

9 to 10 am – WATSONVILLE
At the old depot at Beach and Walker Streets
Music: Aptos High School Choir
Historian: Regan Huerta, Pajaro Valley Historical Association
Presenters: State Assemblyman Luis Alejo, Watsonville Mayor/RTC Commissioner Eduardo Montesino, RTC Director George Dondero
Co-hosts: Graniterock, Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce & City of Watsonville
Volunteers: Watsonville Rotary Interact Students
10 to 11 am – APTOS
Near Bayview Hotel
Music: Constellation Barbershop Quartet
Historian: Sandy Lydon
Presenters: Supervisor Elect Zach Friend, County Supervisor/RTC Commissioner Ellen Pirie, RTC Director George Dondero
Co-hosts: County of Santa Cruz, Talmadge Construction, Seacliff Improvement Association, Big Creek Lumber, Santa Cruz Cycling Club, Aptos Village Merchants
Other Activities: Lucile Aldridge Look-Alikes
11 to Noon – CAPITOLA
Next to the Old Train Depot at Monterey and Park Avenues
Music: Gold Standard Barbershop Quartet
Historian: Carolyn Swift, Capitola Museum
Presenters: RTC Commission Chair and Capitola Councilmember Kirby Nicol, Capitola Mayor Michael Termini, Capitola Councilmember Dennis Norton
Co-hosts: City of Capitola, Capitola Soquel Chamber of Commerce
Other Activities: Tours of historic depot site (Depot Inn)
Noon to 1 pm – LIVE OAK
Behind Simpkins Family Swim Center
Music: Soquel High Jazz Band
Historian: Norman Poitevin
Presenters: Supervisor/RTC Commissioner John Leopold, RTC Director George Dondero
Co-hosts: County of Santa Cruz, Live Oak Neighbors, Live Oak Family Resource Center, People Power, Chanticleer Park Neighbors, Live Oak Off Leash Advocates, Boys & Girls Club
Activities: Fun art for kids
1 to 6 pm – WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ
Off Ingalls Street, between Swift and Fair
Music: Kuzanga Marimba Band, Trout Fishing in America
Historian: Sandy Lydon
Presenters: Congressman Sam Farr, Supervisor/RTC Commissioner Neal Coonerty, Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway President Ed Ellis, RTC Director George Dondero, Santa Cruz Mayor/RTC Commissioner Don Lane
Co-hosts: Swift Street Courtyard, Swift Street Commons, Friends of the Rail & Trail & Ecology Action
Bicycle Valets: People Power

Free Train Rides

The RTC and Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway offered free preview train rides for a short jaunt up the coast and back from the Westside Santa Cruz Whistle Stop every hour between 2 and 6 pm on Saturday, November 17.

Related Events organized by others

Friday, November 16, 7:00 pm, Room 450, Cabrillo College, Aptos, FREE
- Lecture and slide show by award-winning local historian Sandy Lydon titled “Wrestling the Octopus: How Santa Cruz Railroad fought the mighty Southern Pacific and forever changed Santa Cruz County.” Mr. Lydon presented to a packed house, and RTC Executive Director George Dondero presented possible future uses of the Rail Line. A historical timeline of Santa Cruz Railroading was unveiled for public viewing.
Saturday, November 17, 7:00 am, FREE
- People Power and Green Ways to School bike ride from Verve Coffee on 41st Avenue to Watsonville, then stopping at each of the Whistle Stops.

Saturday, November 17, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, at all whistle stops, admission fee
- Sold Out: Bus tour shadowing the train to all five whistle stops including history commentary by Sandy Lydon
Saturday, November 17, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Depot Inn, Capitola, FREE
- Guided tours historic former train station originally built in 1901! The depot was converted to an inn in 1990.
Sunday, November 18, 8:30am – 6:00 pm, various locations, admission fee
- Sold Out: Rail Walk – Hop-Off/Hop-On Railwalk Adventure – Walking and bus tour with Sandy Lydon, estimated 5 aggregate mile walk in parts.
Friday, November 23 –January 6, admission fee
- Train to Christmas Town – The Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay Railway unveils its newest holiday train ride called “The Train to Christmas Town.” Along the hour-long ride departing from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, passengers are served hot cocoa and gingerbread cookies, talk with characters from the just-published holiday book, visit Christmas Town, and listen to a new musical score created specifically for the event by four-time Grammy nominated band Trout Fishing in America.