Poway-Midland Railroad

The Poway-Midland Railroad is a heritage railway in Poway, California.

Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc. was founded in 1991, a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, operation and maintenance of antique railroad equipment.

Excursions are run each weekend (the 1st and 3rd weekends using a 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive). The line has 11 total pieces of railroad equipment.

See also

• List of heritage railways

Poway-Midland Railroad is owned by the City of Poway and operated and maintained by the Poway-Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc.

Operating Equipment includes: 1894 Los Angeles Trolley Car, 1907 Baldwin Steam Locomotive and 1956 Fairmont Speeder. PMRR is currently restoring a 1906 San Francisco Cable Car.

  HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PMRRV

SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS

Initial organization meeting May 1991

Incorporation of the PMRR Volunteers Nov 1991

Box car arrives on site Sep 1991

Trolley arrives on site Apr 1993

Track work completed Jun 1993

Old Poway Park dedication Jul 4 1993

First passenger carried behind speeder Jul 4 1993

First locomotive passenger run Sep 1994

Record passenger haul - 2500 Jul 1996

First woman fireman qualified . Jan 1997

San Francisco Cable Car arrives Oct 1997

Turntable dedicated (note 1) Jul 4 2002

Barn expansion dedicated (note 2) Oct 2004

SIGNIFICANT PERFORMANCES ( 11/01/06)

Total Passengers 425,336

Total volunteer manhours 74,492 (As of August 2006)

Record passengers for events;

July Fourth (2005) 1,866, Train Song Fest (2006) 1,829, Christmas In The Park (2004) 1,732, Rendezvous (2005) 1,422

Operation Lifesaver 20,000+

Operations Lifesaver Presentations 40 – 50 annually

Active Members (note 3) 397

NOTES

1)The turntable was installed to permit the equipment to be turned to run in either direction. This was necessary to equalize the wear on the locomotive wheels, thereby doubling their life. The locomotive is turned at least six times a year. In addition, the turntable permits the Volunteers to respot equipment on different tracks are it is being worked on.

2)The barn was doubled in size to permit the extensive restoration work to be done on the cable car. The space here and the electric crane have proven invaluable. The pace of the restoration work has increased dramatically.

3) Of these members, approximately 45 are residents of Poway. The remainder, all non-residents, value the importance and significance of Poway’s railroad to contribute their time, energies and money in support thereof.

External links

• Railroad's website