First Annual Houston Railroad Museum Bluegrass by the Tracks Festival - May 9, 2009

Thanks to the efforts of organizers Tom Scotty and Phil Scheps, and a host of other museum volunteers, the Houston Railroad Museum's First Annual Bluegrass by the Tracks Festival was a resounding success. The benefit event attracted about 300 visitors to the museum over the course of the day on Saturday, May 9.

The afternoon event featured three popular Texas bluegrass groups playing in rotation for an audience that also toured the museum, snacked on barbeque and browsed the swap meet. Master of Ceremonies for the event was long-time bluegrass picker Larry Burnside, who  assisted with site layout, event promotion and solicitation of sponsors.

Here are a few scenes from the event - we hope to see you next time!

Above: The festival lineup for music and fun.

Below: Gulf Coast Chapter NRHS member Dave Bateson, an officer with the Houston Police Department, directs activity at the museum entrance.

Above and below: The Bluegrass Festival attracted visitors of all ages.

Above: Chapter volunteers Grace Beetle and Kelly and Shawn Sanders man the entrance, welcoming the hundreds of visitors to the festival.

Below: Chapter members including Chris Beetle manned each of the cars to guide visitors and provide information about the museum collection.

Above: Musicians with instruments were admitted free and invited to the open microphone between the headliner bands' performances.

Below:  Festival visitors enjoy the sounds of the Lonestar Bluegrass Band.

Above and below: Festival visitors enjoy some Texas Harmony.

Above: The museum's ex-Santa Fe Railway Post Office car, with the model railroad operating in the Railway Express Agency space, proved popular with visitors.

Below: Two young visitors inspect Santa Fe Alco S-2 No. 2350.

Above: Freshly painted HB&T Alco S-2 No. 14 punctuated the end of the new equipment lineup on Track 2.

Below: Chapter members take a break late in the day as the festival winds down. Congratulations and thanks for a job well done to everyone who helped put together this successful Houston Railroad Museum event!

The Bluegrass by the Tracks Festival was made possible not only through the good efforts of museum volunteers, but by these financial sponsors:

Corporate Level
Union Pacific Railroad
Delta Steel Corporation
Mac Steel Corporation
Will Mathis

Family/Sustaining Level
Nancy and Dan Japhet
Justice Jeff Brown and Family
Commissioner Sylvia Garcia
Gerald Gipson
Susan, Tom and Will Scotty
Phil and Mary Scheps
George and Karen Loftin
Councilmember Ron Green

Individual Level
Frank Denton
Wayne Duddleston, Jr.
Patrick Henry
Phil Whitley
Carole Marsh, Laminating Unlimited
Lowell Denton
David and Valanta Taveirne
Philip Trainor
Papa Ben’s Train Place
Betty and Jerry Dorcz
Gale McKinley
Kay Crouch, Crouch Environmental Services
Dr. Robert G. Shong
Mark Lairson
Robert Rheinblat Family
Dr. G. R. Harrell
Edward Bozalina
Frances Koelsch
Clayton Harris

Thanks also to Waste Management, which provided trash boxes and liners for the event, helping us keep the grounds tidy during the day.

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