This event will be held from 2-7pm on Saturday, January 17, and is very different from our usual public train rides. Our target audience for this occasion is the “hardcore railfans” with a passion to photograph trains in action. This is an excellent opportunity for folks to see a group of equipment moving that is not normally seen. With half of the event taking place after dark, the photography aspect is of paramount importance. Many of those taking photographs will be walking beside the trains to get pictures from different angles.

Our museum held a similar event last August. To get a better idea of what this event is all about, check out the photos below, and click here to see a video posted by one of the friendly folks who attended that event last summer.

The cost for this event is $40 per person, which includes rides in the locomotives, and food prepared by some of our museum volunteers. To register for the event, click here. All ticket sales are by credit/debit card. If you pre-register, you can pay for the event in advance. Or you can pay by credit/debit card when you arrive. Although tickets can be purchased the day of the event, pre-registration is highly encouraged so we know how many people to expect.

Visitors to this event should arrive at our maintenance shop at 330 West D Street, about two blocks north of the Pueblo Union Depot. This arrival point is different from our traditional public train ride events. From the Pueblo Union Depot, take Victoria Avenue northeast to D Street, turn left, then two blocks northwest on the left. Click here for a map. Click here for Google Maps directions.

We have started to post some of our more typical train ride events for 2026 on our Events Page. To receive updates about this year’s events, follow our blog. Enter your email address on the bottom of this web page and click the “follow” button.

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, volunteers Dwight, Chris, Justin, Dannis, Nick, Jerod and Paul got busy for our first work day of 2026 by changing out fuel filters on Engine 103, and then starting it for some work to be completed. We switched out a couple of the cabooses that we will not be using for the Railfan Event in a couple of weeks, and then did some other work to prepare for operating in multiple-unit mode. Chris was also able to get the door locks on DOT-001 removed to be able to figure out what was broken inside the lock mechanisms. It was a pleasant day, and we were able to get a bunch of small tasks completed which is always satisfying.

I have included a few pictures of the work being done today. If you are not able to see the pictures, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

On Saturday, December 27, for our last work day of 2025, volunteers Dwight, Bruce, Jerod, Polly, Dannis, Kendall and Paul first worked on removing the Christmas decorations and lights from our train set, and getting them properly packed and stored away, ready for use next year. A little clean up was done inside the cabooses, and then we worked on the generator, which needed some clean up and an oil change.

After a leisurely lunch hour, we headed out to work on cleaning out a couple of switches near the collection area that will be used in the next couple of weeks for some equipment moves we have planned. The two switches don’t get used often and it has been a couple of years since they were last moved. Wind blown dirt can get into the strangest places in moving equipment! Now these switches are ready to work, and we will use them very soon to get some equipment out for an upcoming event.

With the work done, the crew took an early quit and headed for home. Here are a few photos showing the work getting done. If you are not able to see the photos, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

Photos by Paul Brown and Bruce Davis

On Wednesday, December 24, volunteers Dwight, Colin, Bruce, Ben, Jerod, Dannis, Polly, Nick, Henry, Kendall, Dave, Ron, Michael, Diana, Demetris, Teia, and Paul were kept very busy making sure a definite crowd of guests were getting on the last version of the Pueblo Express Christmas trains for 2025. We were very busy with a steady stream of visitors (many seen wearing pajamas!) coming out to ride on our train and get a last minute dose of Christmas cheer! With over 320 riders, we set a new record for number of tickets issued for a Christmas Eve event! The locomotive cab was stuffed full on almost every trip!

Thanks to all of our volunteers who did a great job providing these train rides for our guests through the month of December! It’s all worth it to see folks smiling and enjoying themselves!

Check out the photos below from three of our volunteers. If you are not able to see the photos, click here to go to our Blog Page.

We will be posting some key 2026 train ride event dates soon on our Events Page. Thanks for a great 2025, and Merry Christmas!

– Paul

Photos by Paul Brown, Ben Pollard and Dave Dandurand

On Friday, December 19, and Saturday, December 20, volunteers Dwight, Colin, Bruce, Chris P., Ben, Jerod, Dannis, Nick, Kendall, Reid, Justin, Ron, John, Michael, Diana, Demetris, Teia and Paul worked even harder than last weekend to give nearly 600 guests over two evenings a delightful train ride and a merry experience as Christmas nears. We had so many guests, that we had to scramble to keep them organized and not waiting too long for their ride. Luckily our crews were up to the tasks of serving hot chocolate and cookies in the diner, and entertaining folks with our operating Lionel Christmas layout. Our guests all seemed to be enjoying the evening, with many smiles and good comments about our activity.

Once again the weather provided comfortable conditions, adding to everyone’s enjoyment. The only drawback being that it doesn’t look like a white Christmas for our final event scheduled for Wednesday 12/24, Christmas Eve. And the crews working the event did a great job making this an enjoyable experience for all.

Being a very busy event, I was only able to get a few photos of the crew preparing for work and of our visitors. If you are not able to see the photos, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

On Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13, volunteers Dwight, Colin, Bruce, Chris P, Ben, Jerod, Chris T, Dannis, Polly, Nick, Henry, Kendall, Reid, Justin, Chris F, Ron, John, Michael, Diana, Demetris, Teia and Paul worked very hard to give over 380 guests a delightful train ride and a merry experience to welcome the Christmas season to the Pueblo area. The weather helped out by being chilly but very nice overall through both evenings.

Friday evening was very busy, while Saturday had a slow start, but soon livened up as it got dark. The crews had a good time helping our guests, and a lot of guests were seen smiling!

I have included a few pictures from both evenings’ festivities. If you are not able to see the pictures, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

Join the Pueblo Railway Museum for our “Pueblo Express” public Christmas Train Ride event on Friday and Saturday, December 12 and 13, Friday and Saturday, December 19 and 20, and Wednesday December 24. Train rides will be available from 4PM to 8PM behind the Pueblo Union Depot. Train ride tickets are $15 for a ride in the engine, and $10 for a ride in one of our three cabooses. Children under 3 ride the train free! Cash or check preferred, but credit cards accepted. Train ride tickets can only be purchased during the event. Purchase your tickets at our Gift Shop, a converted caboose behind the Depot, near the passenger boarding area. Trains depart every 20 minutes, so there will be multiple opportunities during the event to ride the train.

Our mini train will once again be on display, in cooperation with the Pueblo Downtown Association. Our Christmas-themed model trains will be open for viewing, free of charge. Enjoy cocoa and cookies in our Diner Car, also free of charge. There is no admission fee to attend the event itself. The charge is only for the train ride.

Our train ride event schedule for 2026 will be posted soon on our Events Page. To receive updates about our upcoming events, follow our blog. Enter your email address on the bottom of this web page and click the “follow” button.

On Saturday, December 6, volunteers Dwight, Bruce, Chris, Colin, Jerod, Polly, Dannis, Nick and Paul splashed around in the melting snow to get the final touches on our Christmas lights and decorations done on our Pueblo Express Christmas Train. We started the day by clearing a bit of snow that was left behind last Wednesday, and then moved into the cabooses to finish installing the lights and various decorations. Then it was time to check out the generator operation, and test the lights once again since we added a few hundred more.

After lunch, a couple of the guys went out to our grade crossings and cleared debris from the flangeways. We also cleaned up the decoration containers and put the generator back in the shop for safe keeping. We are as ready as we can be for the Christmas events starting next weekend. We hope to see you there!

I have included a few pictures from today’s work session. If you are not able to see the pictures, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

On Saturday, November 29, volunteers Dwight, Colin, Bruce, Chris, Thomas, Jerod, Polly, Dannis and Paul braved some very chilly conditions to start decorating the trainset for our upcoming Christmas events in December. Everyone jumped in to untangle the light strings, test for burned out bulbs, and climb ladders or up on the equipment to get the decorations installed. Polly did her magic working on decorating the caboose interiors, while Dannis and Paul stocked in some firewood for the stoves. Bruce continued work on the interior cabinet doors in the C&W caboose. Chris, Thomas, Dwight and Colin figured out all the electrical connections to power those lights. This year we set the lights up for a new look on the locomotive. It is good to get the decorating work done, but it was even better to call it a day and get inside to warm up!!

I have included a few pictures of the work that was done today – but you will have to make it out to our Christmas events on December 12 & 13th, 19th & 20th as well as the traditional Christmas Eve rides on the 24th – if you want to see those lights in action! If you are not able to see the photos, click here to go to our Blog Page.

– Paul

Don’t miss the Pueblo Parade of Lights on November 29, starting at 5:30 PM! The Pueblo Railway Museum is helping Santa ride in the parade on the Pueblo Downtown Express! The Pueblo Downtown Association and the Pueblo Railway Museum are working together to once again bring this Christmas Train to the good citizens of Pueblo.

The Pueblo Railway Museum’s tour guide Ron Roach will be driving the train, which was originally built in 1942 as an airport tug and luggage cars. Ron and Museum volunteer John McDowell brought this train back to life following its acquisition by the Pueblo Downtown Association in 2023. The Downtown Association has made an agreement with the Pueblo Railway Foundation that the Pueblo Railway Museum would store and operate the train and keep it running. The train has sets of cars with many different themes. The train has made many appearances during our Museum’s train ride events this past year as a “static” display, but the Parade of Lights is one of your only chances to see the train in action!

For information on parking and the parade route, click here.

Check out these photos from the parade website’s archive, of our train in last year’s parade! If you are not able to see the photos, click here to go to our Blog Page.

And be sure to come visit our Pueblo Express Christmas trains! The schedule is on our Events Page.