Santa Maria Valley Railroad
The Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a shortline railroad that interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad's Coast Line at Guadalupe, California. As of 2006, the Railroad is owned by the Coast Belle Rail Corporation.
Traffic
The SMV handles 2,000 cars annually. Commodities hauled include:- Asphalt
- Fertilizer
- Fresh and Frozen Food products
- Gypsum wallboard
- Lumber
- Machinery
- Petroleum Products
- Plastic
- Scrap iron
- Beer
- Sugar and Sugar beets
Passenger Service
Special passenger service was only offered during World War II on the Air Base branch to transport military personnel to the Santa Maria Army Air Base for training. The Air Base branch was constructed in 1943. Excursions were offered for the first time on the SMVRR in November 2006, continuing into 2007.History
The SMV was incorporated on July 14, 1911 as the Santa Maria Valley Railway at Los Angeles, California with A. A. Dougherty listed as President.The first of track, from the Southern Pacific connection at Guadalupe to Betteravia Junction, was built by the SP in August 1899 to get to a sugar mill. The SP leased the track to the SMV years later. From Betteravia the SMV built to Santa Maria and on to Roadamite. The SMV also had branches running from Stowell to Air Base, Suey to Rosemary Farms and Rex to Gates.
By 1925 the railway traffic had steeply declined and the railway went bankrupt. Captain George Allan Hancock , a principal of the Dominion Oil Company, purchased the railroad for $75,000 at a Sheriff's auction. The railroad was then reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad in 1926. Until 2006, the railroad was owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock's estate.
The original line ran for, from Guadalupe to Roadamite. The track from Gates to Roadamite was abandoned in 1950.
The last run of No. 21, Captain Hancock's favorite steam locomotive, was in February 1962. Captain Hancock took the throttle one last time. Walt Disney was in the cab with Captain Hancock.
Baldwin 21 currently is undergoing restoration in Astoria, Oregon to be returned to excursion service.
The Union Sugar Beet plant closed in 1993, ending the beet train era.
In 1999 the G. Allan Hancock Estate gained full control of the SMV. The assets of the railroad were sold to Coast Belle Rail Corporation in 2006, ending an 81-year ownership by the Hancock family.
On March 12, 2025, OmniTrax entered into a joint venture for the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, becoming the 29th railroad in the OmniTRAX national rail network.
Other than No. 21, three other steam locomotives are in existence. Following a successful 38 year restoration, the Baldwin Locomotive Works 1924-built No. 205 was sold to the Albany and Eastern Railroad in Lebanon, Oregon and is used on the Santiam Excursion Trains. No. 100 is in Nevada, but has not yet entered restoration by the Virginia and Truckee. No. 1000 resides on Static Display in Griffith Park at Travel Town.
Timeline
- July 14, 1911 Santa Maria Valley Railway organized
- August 23, 1911 grading commenced
- September 28, 1911 laying rails commenced
- March 15, 1912 construction completed
- October 7, 1911 first train operated
- 1926 Santa Maria Valley Railway reorganized as the Santa Maria Valley Railroad
- 1950 track abandoned between Gates and Roadamite
- 2006 Purchased by the Coast Belle Rail Corp. from the descendants of G.A. Hancock family
- 2008 All track east of McClelland Street now vacated. Offices moved to Betteravia Industrial Park.
- 2025: OmniTrax enters into a joint agreement with the SMVRR
Route
Main Route
- Guadalupe originally leased to SMV by SP.
- Betteravia Junction
- Carr
- Pacer
- Midco
- Santa Maria
Air Base Branch (Santa Maria Army Air Base)
- Santa Maria
- Airbase
Betteravia Branch
- Betteravia Junction
- Gumm
- Betteravia
Rosemary Branch (abandoned)
- Santa Maria
- Suey
- Rosemary
- Battles
Gates Branch (abandoned)
- Rosemary
- Rex
- Gates
- Roadamite
Motive Power
The SMV has 6 locomotives:- SMV #70 a 70-ton switcher">GE 70-ton switcher">70-ton switcher built in January 1950 acquired for operation in November 1972 from Fort Dodge DM&S
- SMV #80 a GE 70-ton switcher built in December 1953 acquired for parts for its fleet of 70-ton switchers in November 1972 from Fort Dodge DM&S
- SMV #1801 an EMD GP9 built in June 1959 Built for Milwaukee Road as their #319
- BUGX #1322, a former Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe EMD GP7, still with the original Blue and Gold Paint Scheme. In July of 2025, the loco left the property and headed north.
- FWRY 3501 EMD GP35, purchased from the Fillmore and Western Railway in 2021.
- OMLX 2025, a rebuilt former Kennecott Copper EMD GP39-2, delivered in July of 2025.
| # | Builder | SN | Type | Built | Acq' | Ret' | Dispoistion | Notes |
| 1 | Schenectady | 1588 | 4-6-0 | 9/1882 | 1911 | 1913 | Scrapped | Was Southern Pacific of Arizona #69. |
| 1 | Baldwin | 31418 | 2-8-0 | 8/1907 | 1913 | 1925 | to #15 | Originally Tonopah & Tidewater #5, purchased from that road |
| 2 | Baldwin | 29312 | 2-6-0 | 8/1906 | 1913 | 1925 | to #12 | Originally Tonopah & Tidewater #4, purchased from that road |
| 12 | Baldwin | 29312 | 2-6-0 | 8/1906 | 1925 | 1937 | Scrapped | Previously #2 |
| 15 | Baldwin | 31418 | 2-8-0 | 8/1907 | 1925 | 1933 | Scrapped | Previously #1 |
| 21 | Baldwin | 58638 | 2-8-2 | 4/1925 | 1925 | 1962 | Stored | New. Leased to Shasta-McCloud Steam Rail Tour in 1966. See . Being restored in Astoria, OR |
| 100 | Baldwin | 59284 | 2-8-2 | 6/1926 | 1942 | 1962 | Sold | Was Pope & Talbot, Inc. Sold to White Mountain Scenic RR. See . Under restoration at Virginia and Truckee Railroad |
| 125 | Baldwin | 52790 | 2-6-2 | 1/1920 | Unk | 1947 | Scrapped | Was Columbia & Nehalem River #125 |
| 150 | Baldwin | 55804 | 2-8-2 | 11/1922 | Unk | 1951 | Scrapped | Was Vance [Lumber Company] #4 |
| 205 | Baldwin | 57613 | 2-6-2 | 1/1924 | 1933 | 1950 | Operational | Was San Joaquin & Eastern #205. Donated to 37th Agricultural District. See . Restored. At Albany & Eastern Railroad in Lebanon, Oregon |
| 1000 | Alco Schenectady | 61535 | 2-8-2 | 1/1920 | 1944 | 1954 | Donated | Was Newaukum Valley #1000. Donated to Travel Town Museum. See . |
| 10 | General Electric | 30019 | 70-ton | 6/1948 | 1948 | Scrapped | ||
| 20 | General Electric | 30176 | 70-ton | 7/1948 | 1948 | Sold | Sold to Peninsula Terminal | |
| 30 | General Electric | 30447 | 70-ton | 8/1950 | 1950 | 2000 | Sold | Sold to Nevada Northern, soon sold to Colorado, Kansas & Pacific Railroad |
| 40 | General Electric | 31282 | 70-ton | 3/1952 | 1952 | 2000 | Sold | Sold to Nevada Northern, soon sold to Colorado, Kansas & Pacific Railroad |
| 50 | General Electric | 31283 | 70-ton | 3/1952 | 1952 | Sold | Sold to Peninsula Terminal | |
| 60 | General Electric | 33494 | U6B | 5/1959 | 1959 | 1992 | Scrapped | |
| 70 | General Electric | 30381 | 70-ton | 1/1950 | 1972 | Operational | Was Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern #411 | |
| 80 | General Electric | 32207 | 70-ton | 12/1953 | 1972 | Operational | Was Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern #401 | |
| 1801 | EMD | 59E-90 | GP9 | 6/1959 | 1992 | Operational | Was Great [Western Railway of Colorado|Great Western of Colorado] #1801 | |
| 2025 | Rebuilt EMD | GP39-2 | 2025 | Operational | Lettered OMLX. Rebuilt former Kennecott Copper EMD GP39-2 |
Roster from the Friends of the SMV: https://friends-smvrr.org/images/history/SMVRR-roster.pdf
Also see The Diesel Shop Roster: https://www.thedieselshop.us/SMVR.HTML