Author: davedandurand

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Paul’s Blog – March 23, 2024

On Saturday, March 23, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Kendall Crouch, Bruce Davis, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown worked to get Engine 104 started and checked out for next weekend’s event. After setting up the jump batteries, and following Dwight’s work to charge those batteries several times earlier in the week, we had a successful start on the locomotive. While waiting for the engine to warm up, the group worked to remove batteries from Engine 103. We are in the process of replacing batteries on engine 104 and two of the batteries on Engine 103 are pretty new and will be used as part of the replacement set. Engine 103 will be out of service for an undetermined time, so it was best to remove all the batteries for now. The group then moved Engine 103 onto another of the shop tracks to keep it out of the way for future operations this season.

The crew took a quick lunch break, and then got back to work cleaning up the batteries that we scattered all over, and then did some minor work on Engine 104, including replacing a brake shoe on the number 3 axle and working on the bell. Then we spent some time running the train set around on our running track and checking out equipment operation.

I have included a few pictures of today’s work.

– Paul

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Paul’s Blog – March 16, 2024

On Saturday, March 16, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Bruce Davis, Chris Pollard, Kendall Crouch and Paul Brown started by setting up the battery charger again on our jump battery set to get them ready to use. We then went to work on our cabooses to make sure they are ready for our first event in two weeks. We made sure we had wood to burn for heat, and that things were cleaned up inside. The C&W caboose got some extra attention, as we prepare to rebuild cupola seating into this car, making it a little more passenger friendly. We checked on the battery charging and found that the jump set showed 100% complete, so we set the charger up to hit the batteries onboard Engine 104. We then took lunch.

We spent the afternoon looking over some of our other equipment, and catching a few odds and ends tasks that we came across. We checked on the battery charger for a second time and found that it had completed its charge cycle on Engine 104. As it was getting late in the afternoon, we tied up for the day.

I have included a few pictures of Saturday’s action, as well as some photos of some excellent cleanup work done by Bruce Davis on March 12.

– Paul

Photos by Paul Brown and Bruce Davis

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Paul’s Blog – March 9, 2024

On Saturday, March 9, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Bruce Davis, Chris Pollard, Dannis Hudson, Polly Cotton and Paul Brown worked on several projects, the first being one of the most important jobs at the Museum, cleaning up blown in tumbleweeds. While it doesn’t seem important, it greatly improves the looks of the Museum grounds. While that work was being done, we were also charging the locomotive batteries in hope that we can start Engine 104 come the end of the month for the Easter event. When the weed cleanup was completed, we did some work on our Hi-Rail truck, and then took a lunch break.

After lunch, we decided to take a look at our Wig Wag Crossing signal and see if we could figure out why the bell wasn’t very loud and the target wasn’t swinging fully. A few volunteers were able to get up to the mechanism to clean dirt and bugs out of the housing, adjust the gong bell so it now rings louder, and find a way to adjust a pair of contacts to allow for a larger swing arc for the target. We wrapped up the day by doing some measuring in the C&W Caboose for some future work.

Here are a few pictures of the crew in action.

– Paul

davedandurand

Paul’s Blog – March 2, 2024

On Saturday, March 2, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Kendall Crouch, Bruce Davis and Paul Brown dug in and cleaned out a few thousand cubic feet of blown in tumbleweeds from the collection area by Union Depot. Mother Nature’s wind is always nice to the Museum and drops off the weeds and manages to get them wedged in the most unbelievable spots under and around our freight and passenger cars! The crew stopped for lunch after the morning spent cleaning up.

After noticing that the lock hasp on our portable toilet still had not been repaired since the holiday events in December, we decided it was high time to get that fixed. Back in December, someone decided the lock hasp looked better removed from the door of the unit, and luckily the parts were all still there. We can once again lock up the toilet so unwanted visitors don’t trash it.

Lastly, it was reported to us that the C&W Caboose #3 cupola windows were about ready to fall out. After a little investigating, it was found that they were quite easy to remove for repairs, and we found some material to slide into the window frames to cover the holes. We will be working to repair the window frames and get things back to normal as fast as we can. The crew wrapped up work around 5:30 and headed home.

Here are a few pictures highlighting today’s work.

– Paul

davedandurand

Paul’s Blog – February 24, 2024

On Saturday, February 24, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Kendall Crouch, Bruce Davis, Chris Pollard, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown got busy to finish work on a new driveway/crossing across our shop lead tracks. We had to cut some sections of rail to act as flange-ways, and place recycled crushed concrete for the drive surface. While part of the group was finishing up this work, Bruce and Kendall decided to clean up some weeds, which is a great help as this is a major issue on the Museum grounds, and all of the volunteers got in on the work before breaking for lunch.

After lunch, the crew headed out to do cleanup at our two grade crossings. We cleaned the rocks and debris that collected in the flange-ways and at the end of the crossing. We also checked the gauge of the track through the crossing to make sure we don’t have a major problem brewing. The crew checked out some other track and drove in a few spikes that always work loose. After this work, we finished up our day and headed home.

I have included a few pictures of the work done today.

– Paul

Photos by Paul Brown and Kendall Crouch

davedandurand

Paul’s Blog – February 3, 2024

On Saturday, February 3, we had a good size crew come out despite the terrible weather. Dwight Maxey, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson, Kendall Crouch, Chris Pollard, Reid Adams and Paul Brown all spent the day working on cleaning up and organizing a small area of the shop. Luckily, we were able to stay indoors as it rained and snowed all day. The work consisted of fixing a rolling tool box and reorganizing the tools in it, as well as cleaning up a work bench and shelves next to it so we can find small hardware when we need it. We concentrated items that we normally use on the shelves, and moved a number of items to a small storage area out of the way. We also trashed a lot of items that were deemed useless to our ongoing operations. Lastly, we did a bit of clean-up in the shop as we get quite the collection of leaves and dirt blown into the shop when doors are open.

Thanks to the crew that worked hard all day to help get a needed task complete, and we stayed dry and comfortable while doing it. Here are a few pictures of the action which you will see in a couple of pictures was moving quite fast!!

– Paul

davedandurand

Paul’s Blog – January 27, 2024

On Saturday, January 27, the volunteer crew consisting of Dwight Maxey, Colin Mellin, Chris Pollard, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown jumped on a couple of projects. First up, we spread gravel in between a couple of our shop tracks to make conditions a bit safer, and hopefully alleviate some mud issues we’ve been having. This work took a couple of hours in the morning before we took a break for lunch.

After lunch, we deviated a bit from the plan, and instead worked on some improved track crossings on our shop tracks. We needed to cut some old rail to use for flangeways, and then install these in the track and fill in with the same gravel we used in the morning. The old 85 lb rail we rescued a few years back worked just right, and the members all got to practice driving some spikes. Polly and Dannis even got into a little grandmother/grandson competition driving those spikes!

After a busy and fast paced day, we cleaned up the tools and headed out, but we’ll be back again next Saturday for more fun! I have included a few pictures of today’s work, but sorry I didn’t get any of the spike driving contest!

– Paul

davedandurand

Announcing our 2024 Event Schedule!

The Pueblo Railway Museum is pleased to announce our 2024 Event Schedule:

  • Easter Bunny Express, Saturday, March 30, 11am-3pm
  • Train Rides at the Depot, Saturday, May 18, 10am-2pm
  • Father’s Day Train, Saturday, June 15, 10am-2pm
  • America’s Birthday, Thursday, July 4, 10am-2pm
  • Train Rides at the Depot, Saturday, August 17, 10am-2pm
  • Back to School Train, Saturday, September 21, 11am-3pm
  • Cemetery Express, Saturday, October 26, 4pm-8pm
  • Pueblo Express Christmas Trains:
    • Saturday, December 7, 4pm-8pm
    • Friday and Saturday, December 13-14, 4pm-8pm
    • Tuesday, December 24, 4pm-8pm

Train ride tickets are $15 for a ride in the engine, and $10 for a ride in one of the cabooses. Children under 2 ride the train free! Cash or check only, please. Train ride tickets can only be purchased during the events. Purchase your tickets at our Gift Shop, a converted caboose behind the Depot, near where the trains depart. Trains depart approximately every 20 minutes, including loading and unloading time, so the train ride itself is about 10-15 minutes.

The latest event schedule can be found 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.

davedandurand

Paul’s Blog – January 20, 2024

On Saturday, January 20, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Bruce Davis, Chris Pollard, Colin Mellin, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown worked to get a welder/generator unit running, and install it on our track maintenance truck. The welder generator was not getting fuel, and after some checks were made, it was found that the vacuum operated pump was not moving fuel. The crew decided to replace that pump with an electric unit we had sitting around. After changing some fuel lines and making final connections, we were able to get the unit running and producing power.

After a quick lunch break, we moved the welder/generator over to the maintenance truck and lifted it onto the rear deck of the truck. After attaching with bolts, we ran the unit one more time and wrapped up the work. We were not able to look at the maintenance truck to determine some parts needed to do some needed maintenance, like changing the engine oil and filter, so we will have to plan another day’s work to catch up with that. Now we have another tool to help fix things around the Museum.

I have included a few pictures that caught the action of the day.

– Paul

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Paul’s Blog – January 13, 2024

On Saturday, January 13, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Dannis Hudson, Colin Mellin, Bruce Davis, Chris Pollard and Paul Brown braved single digit temperatures to do a bit of track maintenance at the Museum. The crew worked to make and install assistance handles that will attach to the throw lever of a switch stand to make the work a little less strenuous while throwing our lightly used switches. The crew also worked to lubricate the switch points and check track gauge through each of nine switches to make sure nothing is way out of specs. A few instances were found that will require attention in the near future. We also tightened a few track bolts on various joint bars around our main running track.

Though it was very cold, everyone was ready to work, and nobody suffered any ill effects from the conditions. I have included a few pictures of the action today, and it may look pleasant but it was very cold!!

– Paul