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

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

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

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.

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

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

On Saturday, December 30, volunteers Dwight Maxey, Chris Pollard, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown worked to remove the Christmas decorations from our train set. Our new methods for attaching the lights made quick work of the removal. After a quick lunch break, we did a battery check on Engine 104. We needed to find out if – after a week of sitting – if any of our batteries were holding a charge. After isolating and attempting to roll the engine over with both on board batteries, and the set on the ground we have been jumping with, it was determined that our batteries are no longer up to the task. Watch for future reports to find out what happens next!

The crew finished up the day reducing the size of the pallet we store our generator on, and installing a smooth deck on the pallet to ease the work needed to get it under the caboose for use. I was only able to get one picture today of the crew as they finished work.

– Paul

On Sunday, December 24th, the Museum ran it’s annual Christmas Eve Pueblo Express, which is also the last event for the year. We may have set a record for attendance with this one as we had close to 200 total visitors. Thanks to volunteers Ron Roach, Dave Dandurand, Diana Garrison, Teia Brown, Demitris Brown, Michael Brown, Jackie Anzlovar, Dwight Maxey, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson and Paul Brown, our visitors were all seen having a good time and enjoying the Christmas lights with snow flurries falling! Our train crew was kept hopping with this many visitors, and some radio issues, which we solved the old fashion way with lantern signals. I’m sure the crew in the diner never got to catch their breath as folks streamed in to get some hot chocolate! All in all, it was a fun evening and the culmination of a very good year at the Pueblo Railway Museum.

I have included a few pictures of last nights event, enjoy and Merry Christmas!!

– Paul

On Friday and Saturday, December 15 and 16, the Museum presented their second weekend of our annual Christmas Train Rides on the Pueblo Express. We had a great turn out of guests, with our two-night total nearing 500 people who came out to enjoy the train ride, check out the decorations, have a hot chocolate, and perhaps even visit with Santa! The trains never stopped rolling as the guests just kept coming!

Without the help of the following volunteers, none of this could have happened. Volunteers Ron Roach, John McDowell, Diana Garrison, Teia Brown, Demitris Brown, Micheal Brown, Jackie Anzlovar, Justin Cesar, Colin Mellin, Reid Adams, Polly Cotton, Dannis Hudson, Chris Fox, Bruce Davis and Paul Brown made sure our guests had an enjoyable time and a fun train ride.

We had many first-time guests, and a number of folks who have made our Pueblo Express Christmas train rides an annual tradition. We really appreciate our guests, and hope that we can attract them back for another ride in 2024. Follow our blog to get updates on our events next year!

I have included a few pictures of Saturday night’s event. That’s when I had more time on the ground to actually take some pictures! Enjoy, as we prepare for our final train ride event on Christmas Eve.

– Paul