Santa Maria Valley Railroad

Miller Street Yard Update

April 3, 2007

On January 3, 2007 was the last revenue run in the Miller Street yard, ending a 95-year history on that part of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The Miller Street yard was not part of the sale of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. This was once a bustling yard with packing sheds, warehouses, and the La Brea Ice Company, which supplied ice for the refrigerator cars transporting fresh vegetables across the country.

The last several months the tracks have been taken up and the stacks of rail material were moved to the McClelland Street yard. Only 100 feet of track remain east of Miller Street. The Santa Maria Valley Railroad Maintenance of way gang is busy reconfiguring the track in the McClelland Street yard so the railroad will no longer cross Miller Street.

Only 100 feet of track remains in the Miller Street yard. Meanwhile, the Santa Maria Valley Railroad MOW gang is quickly working to reconfigure the track in the McClelland Street yard.

Here are some last looks at the old water tower foundation, just before demolition to make room for the track material from the Miller Street yard.

Rob Himoto and Conductor Anthony Torres posing on the last freight train out of Miller Street yard (January 2007).

Engineer Jim McEntire at the throttle of #70 (January 2007).

Engineer McEntire stops the train at the farthest East point for one last time (January 2007).

MOW Foreman Jesse Flores, MOW worker Rafael Sanchez, and Conductor/MOW Vince Martinez reconfigure the track in the McClelland Street yard (January 2007).