Poway–Midland Railroad Explained

The Poway–Midland Railroad is a heritage railroad located in Old Poway Park in Poway, California.

The group "Poway–Midland Railroad Volunteers, Inc." operates the railroad and was founded in 1991 as 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 of each month using a 1907 Baldwin 0-4-0 steam locomotive, except in January or February^[1]). The line has 11 total pieces of railroad equipment. This operation is unusual in that it has a track gauge of narrow gauge.^[2]

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

Preserved equipment

• 1907 Baldwin Steam Locomotive
• 1956 Fairmont Speeder
• 1906 San Francisco Cable Car^[3]

Historic timeline

• May 1991 – Initial meeting
• Nov 1991 – Incorporation of the PMRR Volunteers
• Sep 1991 – Boxcar arrives on site
• Apr 1993 – Trolley arrives on site
• Jun 1993 – Track work completed
• Jul 4 1993 – Old Poway Park dedication
• Jul 4 1993 – First passenger carried behind speeder
• Sep 1994 – First locomotive passenger run
• Jul 1996 – Record passenger haul (2,500)
• Jan 1997 – First woman fireman qualified
• Oct 1997 – San Francisco Cable Car arrives
• Jul 4 2002 – Turntable dedicated
• Oct 2004 – Barn expansion dedicated
• Oct 2009 – Depot dedicated (new ticket office, train shop, and museum)

Statistics

• Total passengers: 425,336 (As of 1 November 2006)
• Total volunteer hours: 74,492 (As of August 2006)
• 1,866 passengers July 4, 2005
• 1,829 passengers Train Song Fest 2006
• 1,732 passengers Christmas in the Park 2004
• 1,422 Rendezvous 2005
• Operation Lifesaver program presented to 20,000+ viewers
• 40–50 Operations Lifesaver presentations annually
• 397 active members

See also

• List of heritage railroads in the United States

External links

• Official Poway–Midland Railroad website

32.9703°N -117.0369°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: POWAY-MIDLAND RAILROAD VOLUNTEERS INC.. 2005-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20130313121250/http://www.powaymidlandrr.org/default.htm#fares. 2013-03-13. dead.
2. Web site: Day tripping: The Poway Midland Railroad. 15 May 2011.
3. Web site: 2021-11-28 . The cable car is back and rolling at Old Poway Park - . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301131718/https://www.kusi.com/the-cable-car-is-back-and-rolling-at-old-poway-park/ . 2022-03-01 . 2022-03-01 . KUSI News . en-US.