PLA Steamfest
For additional information see the PLA website.
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Redwood Region Logging Conference (RRLC)
Roots has provided historic logging equipment for special community events such as the Redwood Region Logging Conference. The conference, an annual event showcasing new and old logging equipment and practices, alternates between Eureka and Ukiah. Roots of Motive Power demonstrates various pieces of historical equipment that document the history of the logging industry. For the RRLC Ukiah shows, up to 10 pieces of machinery from the Roots collection have been on display. On one of the days school children from all over the county are invited to tour the event.
For additional information see the RRLC website.
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Steam Engineering and Operating Safety Class
The Steam Engineering Class is divided into two parts: a classroom session and a hands-on steam-up of machinery. The classroom session covers legal and liability matters, properties of steam, boiler construction, firing a boiler, the steam engine, machine operation safety and many other aspects. The outdoor session utilizes experienced Roots engineers to teach how the machinery is steamed up, run and shut down.

Classes are for Roots members only. Membership application
To register for the class send
1) Your name, address, phone number and email address
2) $75 payable to Roots of Motive Power (please be sure to note that this is for the Steam Engineering Class)
3) Membership application and fee, if applicable
to:
Roots of Motive Power
P.O. Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490
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Pacific Coast Dream Machine Show
The Pacific Coast Dream Machine Show is a one day event held at the Half Moon Bay airport. For past shows Roots of Motive Power has demonstrated a variety of machines including steam yarders, stationary steam engines, a winch, the steam-powered road roller and various caterpillar tractors. Equipment from the Roots collection is loaded on trucks on Friday, delivered and set up at Half Moon Bay on Saturday and loaded back up on Sunday after the show for the return trip to Willits. This show has the greatest attendance of any of our steam-ups throughout the year and attracts people of all ages interested in the hundreds of antique/restored cars and trucks, restored and vintage aircraft and small engines (early day gas engines).

This show is open to the public with an entry fee which supports a worthy cause in the Half Moon Bay area.
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More about Dream Machine Show

Education Day
An important function of Roots is education of the public about the bygone era of steam power and the history of the north coast logging industry. A favorite event of the year is Education Day which is designed to give local students a taste of the past.
Open to local schools working through the Mendocino County Museum. Email the museum for information.
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Railroad Operation and Safety Class
The Railroad Operation and Safety Class was first given in 2003 as part of the Steam Engineering Class, but it has become such an important function of Roots that we have created a two-day class just for this topic. The weekend includes a classroom session plus hands-on training. The training includes the following subjects: coupling and uncoupling, air hose connection, train movement signals and switch operation. This class will be mandatory for anyone involved in operating railroad equipment.

Classes are for Roots members only. Membership application
To register for the class send
1) Your name, address, phone number and email address
2) $75 payable to Roots of Motive Power (please be sure to note that this is for the Railroad Operation and Safety Class)
3) Membership application and fee, if applicable
to:
Roots of Motive Power
P.O. Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490
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Willits Frontier Days 
The annual July 4th celebration in Willits has become one of Roots' main steam-up events since our first event in 1982 when we operated our newly completed Murray Brothers spool donkey on compressed air. As part of Frontier Days, which is sponsored by the California Cowboys Association, Roots of Motive Power volunteers steam up selected pieces of machinery and give tours of the facility on July 4th only. Frontier Days is a week long event which includes the July 4th parade and beef barbecue in the park, carnival rides, rodeo, junior rodeo and events at the Mendocino County Museum.

The Roots steam-up is free and open to the public
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Roots Annual Meeting
Election of officers, progress reports, equipment reports and steam-up schedule for the coming year are the main agenda items. Following the meeting there is a potluck supper. Time and place of the meeting to be announced.

Open to Roots members
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Roots of Motive Power Festival
The major steam-up event of the year is the Roots of Motive Power Festival, held annually in September at the Roots facility. Our work efforts throughout the year are aimed at having every piece of operable equipment under power. Plumes of steam and the shrieks of steam whistles will fill the air as a variety of steam-powered equipment is fired up.