This group is about Santa Maria Valley Railroad, the past, present and future, and the other railroads which operated in the Santa Maria Valley. Also special events hosted by the SMVRR and the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad are posted here.

The Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a 14 mile shortline railroad located in the Santa Maria Valley and interchanges with the Union Pacific Railroad in Guadalupe, California. The SMVRR was first built in 1911 and purchased by Captain G. Allan Hancock in 1925. Hancock built up business and became one of the busiest shortlines in the west. Today SMVRR is under new ownership and management is working to expand the freight business. The SMVRR recently moved its yard facilities to the Betteravia Industrial Park. The new rail yard provides expanded facilities for transloading and warehousing. http://www.smvrr.com/

The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a non profit dedicated to the the preservation, improvement, and interpretation of the historical aspects of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad provides volunteers for excursions and special events held on the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The Friends is putting together a library of historical documents and artifacts for a future museum at the Betteravia townsite. http://www.friends-smvrr.org/

Everyone who would be interested in the railroads in the Santa Maria Valley, please send them a link to our group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SMVRR/ They can join there.