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.

2023 Events Calendar – PDF

2023 Roots Sponsored Events

April

1 & 2

Sat & Sun

Steam Engineering and Operating Safety Class

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

July

22 & 23

Sat & Sun

Dipper Stick Shovel Class (New Event)

The Dipper Stick Shovel Class makes its debut this year!  Every year at the Steam Festival the “pit” is becoming a very popular part of the event.  In an effort to train the next generation of operators for our shovels, we have created a two-day class just for this topic. The weekend includes about half of a day in a classroom session plus hands-on training for the other 1 and a half days. The training includes the following subjects: Construction and theory of digging with a dipper stick, safety, machine design, lubrication, maintenance, and operation. Please wear Boots, heavy gloves and long sleeves. 
 
The beginning class will be focused on the Buycrus Erie diesel-powered 22B and the advanced class will be on the Bucyrus Erie steam-powered 50 B (Steam Safety Class is a prerequisite for this class)
 
Classes are for Roots members only. (Membership application)

To register for the class send:

  1. Your name, address, phone number and email address
  2. $100 payable to Roots of Motive Power
    (please be sure to note that this is for the Dipper Stick Shovel Class)
  3. Membership application and fee, if applicable

to:
Roots of Motive Power
P.O.Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490

June

3 & 4

Sat & Sun

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 Steam Engineering Class)
  3. Membership application and fee, if applicable
to:
Roots of Motive Power
P.O.Box 1540
Willits, CA 95490

July

4

Tueday

Willits Frontier Day Parade

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. Also, on the afternoon July 4, a diesel-electric locomotive will pull a train for free rides. 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.

August

20

Sunday

Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting 11 AM, Roots Maintenance Yard

Election of officers, progress report of equipment restoration, repairs, acquisitions during the past year.  

Annual Steam-Up, BBQ, Raffle and Auction Plans.

Open to Roots members. 

September

9 – 10

Saturday & Sunday

Roots of Motive Power Steam 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.

November

26

Sunday

Special Workday - Decorate Engine House

Members and the Public are invited to help us decorate the Engine house for the Holiday Express. 

December

2

Saturday

Christmas Holiday 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.

Free and open to the public.

2023 Events in which Roots participates but does not organize

March

16 – 18

Thursday – Saturday

Redwood Region Logging Conference Willits, CA

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.

April

30

Sunday

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show Half Moon Bay CA

September

24

Sunday

Center for the Book Annual Roadworks Steam Festival San Francisco CA