Ione RailFair

NEWS

12/15/10

Great News!

The Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest is rolling again. It will be held on Memorial Day Weekend May 28 and 29, 2011 in Ione, Ca. If you haven't heard Sierra Pacific Industries donated the Amador Central Railroad to the Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society and the Amador County Historical Society in October of this year. We are back on the tracks and the preparations for the Railfair are getting up to speed. Please contact us with any question regarding the Railfair or other interests by going to "contact us" on the home page.

The Recreational Railroad Coalition Historical Society has recently started a formal membership program. Contact Greg Ockander at gotrains@ymail.com for information on membership and applications.

We are very excited about the future of the Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest. With the inclusion of our partner , the ACHS, in preparations for the Railfair we are hoping to expand the scope of the event to include even more opportunities to learn about the Amador Central Railroad and to have more local participation in expanding and growing the event. If you or anyone you may know is interested in the Ione Railfair as a participant or vendor we would like to talk to you.

Thanks for visiting our website and we hope to have more frequent updates and generally more information about the Amador Central railroad and the Recreational Railroad Coalition on this website. We are rolling again!!!.

Dave Balestreri - Railfair Coordinator

Ionerailfair@yahoo.com

4/24/10

HERE ARE SOME SITES FOR THE VIDEOS OF THE LAST RUN ON THE AFRR. ONE IS BY DAVE QUEZADA ONE OF OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS AT 18 YRS OLD. THE OTHER IS BY WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHERS LARRY ANGIER AND CAROLYN FOX. OUR THANKS TO ALL OF THEM,THESE ARE FIRST CLASS VIDEOS. BE SURE TO LOOK AT THEM.

HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/watch?v=nvg2KTvo9eg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b17yg2F-K7E

4-21-10

The Ione Railfair may be history for 2010 but the RRC is still alive and on the rails . We are discussing our options. Remember we still have track in Stockton and there is a whole summmer ahead. Rides on the motorcars were a big part of the Ione Railfair. Watch this site or contact us as we are hoping to be offering rides at other locations through out the year.

4-14-10

The Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest has been canceled for 2010.
Please check next year. Read Down

4-20-10

Well, now I finally have a answer to the question," will there be a Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest this year?" Unfortunately the will not be a Railfair. The RRC was not able to renegotiate a lease with SPI Inc. But, the door has not completely closed and we continue to seek a resolution satisfactory to SPI Inc. We do not consider SPI Inc. a villain in this situation and are grateful for the time we had on the AFRR. Positive remarks to SPI may be helpful and we do know that the proper people at SPI Inc. have received many to date. They can't hurt. I am hopeful we will rise from this problem and produce a Railfair in 2011. I want to thank you for your interest and hope we will be able to get together on Memorial Day weekend in 2011. Also, I will let you know as soon as possible if the lease is renewed and a Railfair is back on the horizon.

Thank you, Dave Balestreri Railfair Coordinator

Recreational Railroad Coalition http://www.ionerailfair.org 916 531 7536

Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 11:36 PM Subject: News of The Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest

Dear Ione Railfair Participant,

The Recreational Railroad Coalition recently lost access to the Amador Foothill Railroad. This loss came as a complete surprise to the RRC and was totally unexpected. We are currently negotiating with the owner, Sierra Pacific Industries, to regain access to the railroad. Our Ione Railfair and Vintage Motorfest promising to be the best Railfair to date was blindsided. Until we can get a conclusive decision from the landlord we want to advise you of our situation. The Railfair team does not want to cancel the Railfair at this time, but wants you to know we are placing the maximum effort on solving our problem. A meeting with the owner has been scheduled during the week of April 12 , 2010. A final decision on the viability of this year's event will be forthcoming as soon as we have the information but no later than April 17, 2010. We ask for your patience and know the uncertainty is a burden for you. A quick positive letter in support of the RRC and the Ione Railfair to SPI's CFO Mark Emmerson may be beneficial to this dilemma.( SPI,po box 496028,Redding Ca., 96049-6028 ) If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me. Thank You for your patience,

Dave Balestreri Recreational Railroad Coalition Railfair Coordinator dbalestreri@softcom.net 916 531 7536

9/01/09

The Recreational Railroad Coalition will be hosting the Motorcar Operators West Annual General Meeting on October 31,09 in Ione, Ca. The day will include two excursions on the Amador Foothill Railroad. Additionally, a Bar-b-Que Lunch prepared by Tony Queirolo and Mitch Haike will precede the midday meeting. These premier railroad chefs are known far and wide for their ability to cook fine food for large groups. The menu is, Ribs cooked in a barrel, pasta with pesto ,green salad, a bottle of water and a dessert. The price for the lunch feast will be $7.50 and there will be plenty of food to go around. Soft drinks will be one dollar. Let me get back to the dessert. We would like to try a potluck style desert. The idea is for you to bring a regular recipe of your favorite dessert and to share it with others in the group. People come with great things to eat at potlucks. I think it will be fun and if everyone participates there will be enough dessert to go around. Carol would like you to bring the recipe for your dessert so it can be added to the MOW cookbook. I will remind you of the dessert when you sign up for the excursion. AND,on Sunday, DON'T forget we will be running the ST+E in Stockton. Fat Freddie and his Fabulous Frankfurters will be serving lunch for us there. Great hot dogs ,great price. We hope to make at least one run into town to operate on city streets a little. Any questions, you can find me at Ionerailfair@yahoo.net , or call 916 531 7536.

Thanks, Dave Balestreri

FLASH!! NEWS BULLETIN

Recreational Railroad Coalition has completed improvements to the set on location in the Ione rail yard. Now with the placement of 50 cubic yards of road base it is smooth and level with plenty of space for multiple set-on and set-off opportunities. This will certainly make those activities faster and easier See you on 10/31 in Ione!!