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Roots of Motive Power Events Schedule For photos of some of the past events visit the Photo Gallery. In addition to the events listed below, the public is welcome to tour the collection at no charge during work days.
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| Roots-Sponsored Events | |
| April 10-11 | Steam Engineering and Operating Safety Class, Willits CA |
| May 21 |
Education Day, Willits CA |
| May 22-23 |
Railroad Operation and Safety Class, Willits CA |
| July 4 | Willits Frontier Days Steam-up, Fourth of July Celebration, Willits CA |
| August 15 |
Annual Meeting, Election of Officers, Willits CA |
| September 11-12 | Roots of Motive Power Festival, Willits CA |
| December 4 | Christmas Express Willits CA |
| Events which Roots participates in but does not organize | |
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March 13-14 |
PLA Steamfest, Niles Canyon CA |
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March 25-27 |
Redwood Region Logging Conference, Ukiah CA |
| April 25 |
Pacific Coast Dream Machine Show, Half Moon Bay CA |
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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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.
In addition to the steam-up we reserve the
Recreation Grove Park across the street for the Early Day Gas
Engine Society and Bill Rose's Model A Tour group to set up
under the oaks. Late Saturday afternoon in the park we also hold
the annual Roots Appreciation BBQ and raffle which has become
legendary among the gourmet BBQ set. The smell of whole pigs
roasting on the spit draws a huge crowd for the perfect ending to a
wonderful day.
The steam-up is free and open to the public, however there is a charge for the BBQ
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Christmas
Express
A Christmas party features Santa
arriving on a steam locomotive. Trees, trains, singing, carollers, and
refreshments
make this an event for kids of all ages.