Get along little doggies! Cowgirls were riding the range at RailFest this past weekend. A good turnout on a beautiful Saturday. RailFest is put on by the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society in cooperation with Fillmore & Western.

Opening day, under cloudy skies, locals and busloads of people descended upon Fillmore for the 17 th annual Rail Fest hosted by the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society in cooperation with the Fillmore & Western Railway.

Again... hundreds of people... young, old and everybody in between... came to ogle and marvel the star of the Festival... the magnificent #14 steam locomotive. She never disappoints. Rail fans with cameras of all kinds were in photographers heaven.

But wait... there's more! Those fortunate enough to secure a ticket were treated to a rare experience. Hop aboard... take your seat in an enclosed car... or the open-air car... and hold on as #14 hauls the train east out to the Fish Hatchery Road. After a brief pause... she shudders... belches a cloud of smoke... and begins the return trip. After going through the infamous “tunnel” just west of Highway 126, the train stops. Everybody with a camera... and others who simply desire to witness the pending exciting event... disembark. The engineer puts #14 in reverse to go back through the tunnel. After a brief pause... letting the suspense build... #14 begins her re-run through the tunnel. Rails shivering under her powerful driving wheels... she emerges with a dense plume of smoke and blasts from her mighty steam whistle. A classic Kodak moment with a thrill remembered forever. As she whizzes by the throng of people enthralled with her performance... observant types swear that they saw the proud #14 grinning with glee. Pssst... it's true! Thereafter... passengers climb back aboard the train for the return trip to the depot.

Back at the station... people of all ages enjoyed munchies at the Sausage booth or feasted on a famous SCRVRHS wood-roasted BBQ tri-tip sandwich. Yum!

The Festival also hosted vendor's booths featuring various goodies from prim-and-proper hats to model train souvenirs. Classic farm tractors were on display. Pony rides for the youngsters and “speeder” rides for the adventurous. The SCRVRHS Railroad Center and the Fillmore Historical Museum's Southern Pacific depot entertained throngs of visitors. Having something for everybody to enjoy... it was impossible not to have a stupendously good time.

Although rain on Sunday prevented many from enjoying the full experience of the Festival... #14 was no less eager to thrill her passengers on runs west... out through the Santa Clara River valley countryside.
Rail Fest 2012 was another great Fillmore event produced by many great people. All those who attended agreed this was another fabulous fun-packed Fillmore activity and looking forward to the treat next year. You'll be there... right?

see additional photos here http://www.fillmoregazette.com/front-page/rail-fest-2012-photos