Work Session Status Week Ending 09/26/2015

September 29, 2015

Not much restoration work was done this past week due to our Annual Open House preparations and event on Saturday.

2926 visitors began arriving prior to our start time of 9:00AM which kicked off a steady stream of visitors all day until 4:00PM.

The number of people were about the same as last year, around 1700.

Special thanks go out to several companies for their participation and support of the open house. BNSF brought a locomotive to our site for display. Dr. Mike and Clem H. were onsite in the middle of the night to receive it. Our local CBS/Fox affiliate interviewed Bob D., Gail K. and myself on live TV early Friday morning. The ABQ Journal ran several spots prior to the open house. B & H Wholesale, across the street from our restoration site, again provided and popped their popcorn all day. Our neighbors let us use their property this year for extra parking and visitors were very pleased. Reliance Steel also allowed us to use their parking as well. These lots helped alleviate the crowed parking we experienced last year.

The open house would never be the same without the live entertainment. Los Radiators, Territorial Brass Band, Jazz a la Carte & Holy Water and Whiskey all entertained the rail fans from start to finish. Thanks to all of you! (Dr. Mike can pass on the word to them for me.) We really appreciate them, as always, and nice to have the new band, Jazz a la Carte, joining with us this year.

Last but not least, the many 2926 volunteers that have worked so tirelessly since last year to provide our visitors visual progress as the restoration continues. So many women, men and their wives took part assisting visitors, answering questions, preparing the food, parking cars and operating the displays. Kudos to our all-volunteer group for a job well done! Also we have to mention those that came from out of town to help as well. We always have volunteers from all over the world to help with this event. Also to those that helped monetarily over the past months to help move this project forward. A special thanks to you as well. Keep up the good work everyone!

I hope to see everyone at the site this week. We might get some relief from the heat later in the week.

And as always . . .

Keep on Steamin’,
Rick Kirby, CMO
NMSL&RHS