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Sierra Northern Railway, partnering with nonprofit Operation Toy Train, ran a pair of Santa trains Saturday, Dec. 7, on its Ventura Division between Ventura and Piru, about 30 miles.
The first train, consisting of Genset locomotive No. 2666, an open-air car, and heavyweight business car No. 409, left Ventura at 10:30 a.m., arriving in Santa Paula just after noon. Dave Wilkinson owns the four-axle business car.
With the railroad still split from the 2023 washout of the Sespe Creek Bridge near Fillmore, Calif., a second train operated from Fillmore to Piru, Calif. That train ran with another Genset unit, a pair of baggage cars, and a former Santa Fe caboose. More than 650 toys were collected.
Today, Progressive Railroading is revealing the 25 people chosen for recognition this year as Rising Stars in the North American railroad industry.
This is the 12th year that Progressive Railroading has sponsored the Rising Stars Awards program. The magazine defines a Rising Star as someone under the age of 40 who has made, or is making, a positive impact on their company, organization, department or team, and is viewed by others — peers, colleagues, supervisors, clients or associates — as an up-and-coming leader in the rail industry.
West Sacramento-based Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) has received the esteemed Environmental Award from the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) for its leadership in sustainable rail transport innovations.
The award recognizes Sierra Northern’s launch of California’s first zero-emission Hydrogen Switcher Locomotive and the creation of the Inland Port and Transload facility in California’s Central Valley that mark monumental steps toward bolstering sustainability in freight movement…