News

The Western Railway Museum is a proud supporter of an exciting opportunity sweeping the state. What we're trying to do is establish a Snoopy license plate in California, and support our state's museums at the same time with a new source of funds.

If we can get 7,500 registered California drivers to raise their hands in support of Snoopy, we can be the first state in the union to feature the beloved beagle on an official license plate. When we reach the magic number of 7,500 folks willing to pay $50 for a plate, they will go into production, and voilà, a Snoopy license plate is yours.

Registration proceeds from the plate will help our state's great museums by establishing a new competitive grant program for general operating funds.

So, don't hesitate! Go to www.snoopyplate.com today to sign up for your Snoopy license plate. And, tell your friends and family to help us achieve our goal.

Click here to download a 2.7 MB .pdf version of our 2009 Annual Report.

2009 – 2013 Strategic Plan

In 2009, the Board of Directors adopted a Five Year Strategic Plan to help guide and focus the work of the organization. The plan was crafted during two day-long retreats and involved ample opportunity for in depth discussion of priorities, opportunities, and challenges. After a substantial vetting process, the Board arrived at consensus aroud the following 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year goals:

1-year (and annual) goals

Annual budget accountability and work program tied together for all departments, incl. Archives (ongoing annual goal)
Finish 1005
Address governance and management issues (ongoing annual goal)
Develop checks and balances (ongoing annual goal)

3-year goals

Improve interpretation
Expanding education and outreach (onsite and offsite)
Finish Destination Molena

5-year goals

Increase community partnerships
Restore a steel car (there may be no “perfect” option, we need to choose the “best” option)
Return of excursions

SN #1005 Update
The restoration of Sacramento Northern interurban #1005 to its 1934 period began in 1998. In 2009, considerable effort was spent recreating the electrical systems, including the third rail changeover switch: the device that enabled the car to draw power from either an overhead wire (common on the railroad south of Sacramento) or from an energized third rail (north of Sacramento on what was originally the Northern Electric Railway). The car's couplers required significant work, as did the fabrication and installation of the window guards.

Our three goals for SN #1005 are to complete the artifact’s restoration by spring 2010, to use the car in limited passenger service, i.e., once or twice each month, and to train and qualify operators to operate the car safely.

MUNI PCC #1016 Update
Since 2006, long time member and current board member Dave Buechler has been heading up the operational restoration of San Francisco Municipal Railways (MUNI) PCC streetcar #1016 to its “as-built” 1951 condition. In 2009, windows and glass were replaced, new doors and skirts were fabricated, seats are being repaired, replaced, and reupholstered, and one traction motor was replaced. Painting is now almost complete. The car is receiving eight Shaker Heights wheels that will enable it to run on our SN main line when the project is complete in early 2010.