On November 18, 1981, the Goleta Depot started its legendary journey from its original trackside location to its new home at Lake Los Carneros County Park, now a City of Goleta Park. Now, over 40 years later, we look back on this momentous night that forever preserved a piece of Goleta’s railroad history. The...
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As we pause to honor the brave individuals who have served our country this Veterans Day, it’s also a time to reflect on how railroads have supported service members and their families over the years. From early cross-country travel bringing soldiers home, to special military trains during wartime, railroads have played a pivotal role...
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This article originally appeared in the “Goleta Depot Dispatch,” Volume 9, Number 2, September 1989. It has been transcribed and preserved here to share the story of how a dedicated community effort brought the wig-wag signal to life at the Goleta Depot. May 1989 marked a long-awaited milestone for the South Coast Railroad Museum...
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This article originally appeared in the “Goleta Depot Dispatch,” Volume 9, Number 2, September 1989. It has been transcribed and preserved here to share the exciting discovery of a significant piece of Goleta Depot’s history. Until recently, none of the artifacts and furnishings that decorated Goleta Depot’s freight office were original to the building....
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This article originally appeared in the “Goleta Depot Dispatch,” Volume 4, Number 2, Summer 1984. It has been transcribed and preserved here to share the fascinating story of how a piece of Goleta Depot history was rediscovered and restored. In the summer of 1984, the South Coast Railroad Museum at the Historic Goleta Depot...
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The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Santa Barbara in 1887 was a pivotal moment in the history of our community, shaping the region’s development and leaving a lasting architectural legacy. To delve into this fascinating chapter of local history, the Santa Barbara Historical Museum recently held a virtual event titled “Building the...
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Ellwood Station, a significant landmark in California’s railroad history, commemorates Ellwood Cooper, one of the state’s most notable pioneers in horticulture. Cooper played a crucial role in introducing the eucalyptus tree and advancing olive cultivation in Southern California. His influence extended far beyond agriculture, impacting both the landscape and the development of the Santa...
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