A Truly Moving Experience

Some kids love to play with train sets, sending their careening models over hills, highways and valleys, delighted as the loud whistles signal their locomotive’s ever unstoppable movement.

Some grow into teenagers with those memories deepened even more by their own personal railway experiences, maybe of a past lengthy Pullman sleeper ride, where they recall dozing off as the starry skied countryside rushes past them, punctuated by their temporary home’s grinding, forward-thrusting wheels.

Yet only a very rare few are fortunate enough to translate that youthful delight into an actual working, productively passionate adult obsession.

Time to cue in the undeniable, history-dedicated, train aficionados of our own Western Railway Museum. Over the past 60+ years, they have slowly but steadily created one of the most unique, vibrant and exhaustively accurate living collections of electrically-powered streetcars, trolleys and multi-city rail-bound vehicles found anywhere this side of the Rockies. And it is there for all to revel in.

Facilitated by their large cadre of volunteers, they regularly restore, display and translate that passion for the many visitors to their site. The museum itself is located in a semi-remote, but easily accessible location on Highway 12, between Suisun City and Rio Vista. Still, it’s not hard to miss that big sign on the right as you are lulled into temporary tranquility by the endless miles of marshland and sunbaked sheep and cow-filled pastures that precede your arrival.

“We’re a kinetic, moving, rolling operation, which makes us quite different from some other fine museums that keep all their exhibits behind velvet ropes or under glass,” explains continually multi-tasking super-expert tour guide, train operator and board member, John Krauskopf.

Further describing the place where he works and obviously deeply loves, John sums up the WRM experience as providing a, “fantasy trip back into history that utilizes nearly all your senses as you travel there.”

That noble goal seems to be well on its way towards full realization during two early summer visits, where Local Happenings gets to truly savor the total vast and expansive offerings of rail history education crammed into the central location.

The museum now sports a 2001-opened Visitor Center with gift shop, display hall, and archives featuring thousands of rare photos, magazines, artifacts and books, as well as a research-oriented library open to the public twice a month.

There are also lush picnic grounds, a café and two large houses where some 100 old, but ever vital, train units are on display. Still, for many, the most fun feature is certainly the daily train runs on restored cars using the very same tracks these classic lines traveled on back in the early 1900s.

Such panoply of positive current perceptions wasn’t always evident, though. If you look back at the history of the museum, which is nearly as fascinating as the history it seeks to recreate within its own walls.

The origins of WRM date all the way back to post WWII California, according to Executive Director Phil Kohlmetz. He relates how the 1946 acquisition of just one Oakland Key System street car by a group of electric train enthusiasts chartered for a day-long excursion has inexorably led to today’s fully functioning Solano County rail-based phenomenon.

“They learned that the car they were riding on was to be scrapped in just a week. It was the time when everyone dressed well, wore hats—one of them literally took off theirs, passed it around and collected $250 on the spot to buy it.”

Needing an organization to take ownership of the vehicle, they soon decided to dub themselves the Bay Area Electric Railroad Association, the still-functioning parent group that eventually developed the WRM as their major inevitable continuing project, and the rest is rail history.

Over the next 14 years, they continued to acquire streetcars and interurbans (an electric railway traveling between multiple cities) and stored them in various locations, including rail yards.  As mass transit moved more and more toward bus travel, however, these lines began to shut down and they soon demanded that the vehicles be moved out.

Facing the need to find a central and secure location to place them, the group searched high and low, and in 1960 finally settled upon the largely abandoned 22-acre area containing Rio Vista Junction, an important rural transfer stop on the Sac-Northern. The 22 miles of their originally used track were contained on the property, and some of these have since come to life as the later owner, Union Pacific, donated right-of-way privileges for that entire stretch.

Expanding from its humble beginnings, the ever-burgeoning volunteer base eventually built the first pole barn to protect their fragile possessions from foul weather and damaging sunlight.

These efforts were complemented by their designing, constructing and staffing of an all-purpose train restoration shop to help bring damaged but salvageable cars back to display shape, or even to their previous full function. The best looking and most operational of these are now used on the 5 ½ miles of repaired track maintained by another volunteer crew.

Car House 1 now contains up to 30 mostly electric, mostly Western-based units on four sets of tracks, all available for viewing, complete with printed descriptions on many of those vehicles.

Included among the many historically faithful artifacts here are trains from Oakland’s Key Transit System, like articulated Car 187, which between 1939 and 1958 regularly traveled from Berkeley and Oakland over the lower deck of the Bay Bridge to San Francisco. Featured as well is the Rail Association’s first acquisition itself, marked as Key Line 271.

A newer Car House 3, hermetically sealed with protective climate and fire control, also claims a large number of invaluable train assets. Tours there take place each Saturday and Sunday provided by the most invaluable docents, like John Krauskopf.

He also often conducts one of the frequent trolley rides beforehand. The 20-minute excursion is frequently held on a completely restored 102-year-old East Bay wooden streetcar, complete with authentic, brightly recreated advertisements from a now bygone 1930-ish era. To help cement the desired effect, Krauskopf himself sports a period-faithful conductor’s outfit.

As for the newer housing unit where John later holds one of the regularly scheduled weekend tours, his creative and colorful rhetoric punctuates the many background stories, exciting his multi-aged audience as he describes the numerous priceless possessions contained here.

Of particular note are a Pullman sleeper car once used by Franklin Roosevelt’s press corps on a West Coast tour, and the electric motor that pulled President William Howard Taft’s private car to the 1911 dedication of a new Oakland City Hall. Also displayed are the steam locomotive featured in the Disney film, Polyanna and Ruth Gordon’s train-based home in Harold and Maude, along with a whole slew of other commuter and long-distance passenger and freight-rail movers.

Typical of this guide’s captivating train-history renderings is his bringing to relevant life one such unique possession: an ice refrigerator freight car. It once hauled newly grown produce all the way from the fruit and vegetable regions of Northern and Central California. Utilized before modern air-conditioning, it was forced to stop at regular intervals to receive new 500-pound ice blocks while moving onward to its final New York destination.

“I grew up in Ohio,” Krauskopf says. “And the reason I had lettuce on my sandwich when I went to school in November was because of cars like this one.”

Similarly ingratiating are the descriptions often presented by 20-year volunteer veteran Enid Alvedi as she takes you on a lengthier train excursion through the Montezuma Hills, using totally restored interurban Peninsular Railway Car 52.

Passing by remnants of the original Rio Vista stop, Enid pauses every few minutes to point out important landmarks along the way. Among these are two centuries presented here side-by-side: on the right, the 1876-rebuilt Shiloh Church and cemetery, and on the left, the huge Shiloh Wind Farm with 100 turbines, which, according to Alvedi, are capable of powering a city the size of Fresno.

Included too in this unique journey is a stop at Gum Grove, site of one of the museum’s premiere yearly events, The Pumpkin Festival, held on the three October weekends prior to Halloween.

Here, hundreds of attendees are ferried back and forth from near the Visitors Center on a sparkling orange historic Bay Bridge unit. The fun event is sponsored by several local Rotary Clubs and includes games for kids, a 40-foot hay bale, complete with tunnels as well as petting zoos, pony rides and, of course, sales of food and pumpkins.

Still one huger yearly museum happening is their special, dressed-up April “Scenic Limited” ride, utilizing authentic and totally restored Sacramento Northern cars. While traversing the same longer daily route, it now also highlights the springtime wildflower-blooming surroundings with an even more ambitious sunset Vintage Comet experience also featured.

Conducted by the Suisun Valley Wine Cooperative, this includes numerous stops along the way where local vintners provide both hors d’oeuvres and tasting of their proudest special blends.

Western Railway Museum is supported by yearly memberships, private donations, endowments and proceeds from admissions and gift shop sales. These are all needed to finance the restorations that often run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars along with building projects that may cost several millions more.

To help them survive and prosper, WRM is always seeking new members and volunteers, the latter to serve on the repair and maintenance crews to work in the archives as docents, in reception and to operate the trains.

Yet, when all is said and done, one can’t help but still remember what really makes this somewhat out-of-the way and definitely out-of-the ordinary railway creation just so special as it plans now to grow into its future.

“Like I said earlier,” John Krauskopf reiterates, trolleying down his well-driven path. “We are a unique museum in motion.  That was really evident years back when I, like you, rode this very train as a passenger. Well, as we finished the ride one day the man in front of me looked right at the conductor in complete confusion and asked, ‘So where is the museum?’ The answer he received back was ‘You’re in it!’”

Barely hiding a chuckle, he then adds, “Now, though, thanks to our fully operational Visitor Center which provides so many valuable functions, nobody ever asks us that question again.”

Les Honig is a features freelancer and former journalism teacher from back East who relocated to the OC before landing in Benicia to savor the joys of Northern California living.

Children Caught in the Crossfire

Foster children learn too early how hard life can be. A former foster child herself, Lori Cohee started Foster A Dream, a nonprofit in Martinez, California, an organization with the ultimate goal of making sure that foster youth have every opportunity to achieve their dreams. Foster A Dream is now a program within the Volunteers of America organization.

Cohee shared the feeling she had as a foster child, one that is probably held by many youth who are caught in the child welfare system, “You know you may never again live with the family you belong with and you know you’ll never truly belong to the family you’re with.”

It’s common practice across all cultures for relatives to step forward to offer their homes to children whose parents can’t care for them. In some California counties, these families may be in a program called kinship care, which provides the family with a small stipend of several hundred dollars monthly to defray expenses and support from social workers.

Some youth live in group homes, although that is now less common than traditional foster care homes, and kinship care, said Kim Castaneda, Volunteers of America and Foster A Dream Development Director. Many others live in traditional foster care homes with a family that is not their own.

At best, foster and kinship care situations have dedicated and loving individuals caring for children who are not their own. Foster parents do their best to stretch the resources they are given to provide children with the basics of clothing, food, shelter and transportation.

Rare is the foster home that can fully provide the many extras that children want and need for the healthiest and happiest of childhoods. It’s never an easy task to raise children, and all the more so on a limited budget. That’s where Foster A Dream can help.

GetSet Summer Camp

During the last two weeks in June, Foster A Dream hosted their summer camp called GetSet. GetSet is designed to empower foster youth ages 16 to 21 by teaching them tools for life after foster care. Campers met with local community members who are experts in career development and inspired the youth to reach for their dreams.

One of the businesses the campers visited was the Underground Construction Company. The foster youth heard construction industry employees’ personal stories of their career paths, and experienced a close-up look at the building area. Touring other parts of the company, they learned that there are many jobs in the construction field that don’t involve doing the hands-on part of construction work.

Jamarquez, an 18-year-old youth who lives in a group home and attended the camp, shared that his career interest was in the construction field. His case will soon close and he will emancipate from the child welfare system. “Being able to visit Underground helped me learn what I need to do to get a job so I can care for myself in the future.”

The GetSet camp experience helped Jamarquez see a brighter future. “The thought of not knowing where I’m going to go makes me think there is nothing out there for me. But now that I have experienced Foster A Dream and the volunteers here, I know that I’m not alone.”

Beyond the intensive two weeks of summer day camp, GetSet extends through the school year. Youths are matched with mentors and attend monthly gatherings for guidance and inspiration.

Dare to Dream Scholarship

One of Foster A Dream’s supporters talked with one of the scolars, Coreen, during the Dare to Dream Scholarship ceremony. Coreen and 19 others were being honored that night, and as they talked, Coreen shared her experience in foster care. She felt a lack of support and felt she was given unrealistic expectations. In short, she said she felt she was set up to fail.

Receiving the Dare to Dream scholarship, however, and meeting the Foster A Dream supporters who attended the award event, convinced Coreen to see her abilities in a more positive light. She stated, “If I could describe myself in one word, it would be: believer. I believe everything happens for a reason and we are given only as much as we can handle.”

Being a young mother and full-time student at Merritt College, Coreen’s life is stressful at times. But it has not stopped her from pursuing her passion to one day become a nurse practitioner. She wants to use her example of strength and perseverance to inspire others like her to follow their dreams in life.

Another 2013 Dare to Dream scholar is Paul Castro, who is currently attending California State University East Bay, and will begin his sophomore year in August 2013. Paul was a Dare to Dream recipient in 2012 and was awarded a second scholarship in 2013. Past scholars are not guaranteed a renewal on their scholarship. He had to apply to the scholarship like all the 2013 applicants.

In his Dare to Dream Scholarship application statement, Castro shared that after taking a personality assessment in his college exploration class, he added public health as his college major. “I want to go into my community and work with youth on health issues, teaching them what they need to do in order to stay safe.” He is staying motivated and focused on completing his college degree. He said his first year of college was difficult.

He noted that he had to adjust to being more independent, which was difficult when he was unsure of his next steps. Despite his struggles and worries, Foster A Dream staff and others who know Castro are so proud of him as he completed his first year of college with a 3.06 grade point average.

Adopt A Dream

When resources are needed to fulfill foster children’s dreams, the Foster A Dream staff receives requests from social workers, caregivers and the youth themselves.

In the past, Foster A Dream has granted requests for youth to attend proms, play sports, go to summer camps, and given them items for new apartments, amongst others.

Many former foster youth, including Foster A Dream’s founder Cohee, don’t even have photos of their childhood milestones like graduating high school. Annually, the organization receives dozens of senior portrait requests. This need inspired the formation of a free high school senior portrait event.

In March, photographers Alex and Jeri donated their time and equipment doing personalized senior portrait photo sessions with 18 foster youth (Visit Alex’s and Jeri’s websites at www.photographybyalex.net and www.jeriwyerphotography.com).

Foster A Dream volunteers assisted the youth with hair styling, putting on make-up and adding outfit accessories. For many of the youth this is the first time they are taking a school portrait and capturing their achievement of high school graduation. “Children are always amazed at how they look when they’re photographed by a professional photographer,” Castaneda said.

High school senior Amy, entered Foster A Dream’s office for her portrait session holding her cheerleading uniform. “It was a dream of mine to be on the cheer squad in high school and during my senior year and my dream came true.”

Amy’s caregiver contacted Foster A Dream over the summer break and made a request for assistance to pay for the cost of being on the cheer squad. “Now we are here visiting Foster A Dream to take her senior portraits, it has come full circle. We are so thankful and so proud of Amy for all she has accomplished.”

Wonderland

Corporations donate money and staff time to fundraising efforts and activities supporting Foster A Dream. A wide array of area volunteers, many from businesses, create and staff booths at Wonderland, a holiday event that provides activities and gifts to hundreds of children in foster care. Even Santa Claus attends the popular event that is held in a huge and festively decorated warehouse.

Corporate Angels

One of the many businesses that help support foster children is the Sleep Train Corporation. It’s frequently played radio commercials carry the message, “Not everyone can be a foster parent, but everyone can help a foster child.” Donations collected at Sleep Train stores, such as new clothing, school supplies and backpacks, reach the children for whom they’re intended at the offices of Foster A Dream and similar non-profit organizations throughout California.

Shopping for Clothing

Foster children themselves get to go on shopping for their own clothes. At pre-arranged times, foster families visit the clothing room at Foster A Dream at 638 Escobar Street in Martinez.

New Backpacks for School

Providing new backpacks filled with new school supplies to hundreds of foster youth is another major program of Foster A Dream. Funds are raised and actual backpacks and supplies are collected. Contributions may be made by visiting the Foster A Dream office or website, or going to a Sleep Train store or the corporate website.

Interested in getting involved? Here are three ways to participate:

Simply send a check to help the Foster A Dream staff purchase backpacks and supplies.

Get more involved by downloading a shopping list from the Foster A Dream website, buy school supplies and/or a new backpack, and drop it off at the organization’s offices.

Organize a backpack drive in your own community. What a great way to give children with more advantages the experience of helping others.

Foster Parents

Foster parents accept the huge responsibility of caring for children whose parents can’t take care of them. Their positive impact only begins with providing basic physical needs. Other daily elements care such as:

Consistency in daily routines for meals, homework and bedtime.

Concern for school achievement, extracurricular activities and friendships.

Being there, spending time with the child and providing praise and encouragement.

Providing appropriate boundaries and limits.

Many, arguably most children come into foster care with emotional wounds that need binding. Foster parents provide opportunities for these youth to heal, have good childhoods and grow toward adulthood.

Older Foster Youth

Teachers and principals carry memories of former students who lived with foster parents or relatives. When asked about her experience with these students, retired high school principal Carolyn Plath, who worked at Ygnacio High School in Concord, California said: “Yes, over the years I had many foster students at my school. They are remarkable in their determination.

“I was often struck by their normalcy in the face of their pronounced emotional circumstances.  And of course, there were a few who acted out their hurt and anger over the loss of their homes and regular access to their families,” continued Plath.

Last year California legislators passed AB 12, a law that allows foster children who reach age 18 to stay in the system. According to Castaneda of Foster A Dream, more than 50 percent of children in the foster care system are choosing to stay in foster care until age 22. Those who are not sure what direction they want to take may opt in after leaving the system. No additional funding exists for young persons who take the option to stay in the system through the AB 12 option, other than room and board, making donations of extras all the more needed.

How precious are the children on this planet? Who does not have some amount of extra time or money to help the ones whose own parents can’t be there for them for one reason or another?

Foster children can overcome the odds against them and become successful in school and their adult lives. The saying that it takes a village to raise a child comes to mind. When more of us help support struggling children, their lives and ours are better for the effort.

For more information, contact Tamara Earl, Program Director, Foster A Dream at 952-228-0200 or visit the website at
www.fosteradream.org.

Kristine Mietzner lives in Benicia with her golden retriever Max. She serves on the board of Benicia Literary Arts and works as a field supervisor for the Touro University Graduate School of Education. Her work has appeared in the Contra Costa Times, the Benicia Herald, and the online travel magazine, Your Life is a Trip. Her previously published work is posted at www.redroom.com/member/kristine-mietzner.  She can be reached at kristine2770@yahoo.com.