Welcome!

Napa Valley Wine Train Test and Tune

July 1 - September 30, 2025 - By Appointment

MOW offers a Mentoring Program for new operators. This is also an opportunity to Test and Tune and Troubleshoot your car, and/or just run it, if you haven't had it out in a while. There is a 5-mile round-trip section of track we can use for this in the Napa Yard. The fee is $25. To schedule a date and receive all the details, contact Glenn Boatman (925) 289-6423 or Carl Shellhorn (707) 695-9722.

Join us for a round trip run from Schellville to Brazos, continuing on to Black Point, and returning to Schellville.

Distance: ~38 miles

Cost: $150 per car

Set-On: Saturday, 7:30–9:00 AM; Schellville Depot, 1480 Freemont Street, Hwy 121/12

Safety Meeting: 9:15 AM (departure immediately after)

Event Coordinator: Mike Mitchell

Please send registration, inspection, and release forms along with your check (payable to Motorcar Operators West) to:

Mike Mitchell
PO Box 245
Guinda, CA 95637

Questions? Call 530-379-6651 or email bigredfarmscapay@gmail.com

Important: Bring your own lunch and beverage—we’ll be dining on the rails.

Lodging Recommendation (Friday night):

Hampton Inn, Petaluma — 707-397-0000

Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country, Petaluma — 707-283-2888

Please join us at Holbrook, AZ on October 25, 2025. We will be setting cars on at Holbrook, AZ just off of Highway 77 just south of the BNSF railway on Bucket of Blood road, starting at 6:30 am and working until all set on. We hope to have our safety briefing by 9AM and then leave for Snowflake. We will have a restroom break at MP 15 then on to Snowflake then run around the wye at the shops at Snowflakes Apache Railroad shops and have a restroom break then head back to Holbrook for set off. Since Saturday is not a work day there will only be access to a restroom in the shops. There is a 20 car limit because of parking.

Call Joe Schnyder at: 623-332-0238  to reserve a spot!

67.4 miles each way Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Two Nights stay at the Kachina Lodge. Canyon view rooms are $1,296.00. Street view rooms are $1,103.00. Double occupancy, all rooms are two Queen beds, $25.00 for each extra person limit 4 per room.

Total cost includes railroad fees, luggage portage and required tips. Please call for reservation and spot. Registration cut off will be 90 days prior to excursion at which time I will be cashing checks to pay for rooms and railroad fees.

July 25th. 

Joe Schnyder 623-332-0238.  

Hello Motorcar Operators West (MOW) members and ALL NARCOA members. I want to invite you all to join us on Saturday, November 8, 2025, in Arroyo Grande, CA at the Bitter Creek Western Railroad. This is a 7 ½” gauge railroad owned and operated by Karl Hovanitz and he has graciously opened his facility this year for the MOW Annual Meeting.

Besides the results of this year’s election and some other brief important news, this event will be a Celebration of the accomplishments and dedication Bill Schertle has given to this hobby we all love. As you may, or may not know, Bill has previously served as the President of NARCOA, Area 11 Director, President of MOW and was again the NARCOA Area 11 Director until recently, when he decided to step down for health reasons and John Martin stepped into that role with Bill’s encouragement and full support.  

We want to show Bill our love and appreciation for all his years of service to MOW, NARCOA, and all of us, and we sincerely hope you will join us. A barbeque lunch will be provided and Bill and his family will be there. There will be stories told and speeches given during lunch. Anyone and everyone is welcome and encouraged to share memories and stories about Bill. After the festivities, there are 7 ½” gauge speeders and other equipment you can operate yourself. There is also a train, if you just want to go for a ride.

This is expected to be a fantastic event that you won’t want to miss. The only rules are you MUST let me know you are coming and how many are in your party AND you MUST NOT wear flip-flops or any type of open-toed footwear. The deadline to RSVP is Saturday, November 1, 2025, so we have time to get all the food and supplies we will need.

The meeting begins at 10am, followed by lunch with stories and speeches. Then the equipment will be available to ride and/or operate, with the day ending around 5:30pm.

The address is 2110 S Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. Check it out at www.bcwrr.org.

I look forward to your RSVP for this amazing event, by November 1, and seeing you there to help celebrate Mr. Bill Schertle!

As always, thank you for your support,

Rick Smith, Vice President

Motorcar Operators West

C. 707-631-5778

E. r_smith627@comcast.