Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Come ride the train this fall

The weatherman has spoken. Temperatures will be in the mid-70s this weekend! If you're looking for something to do on a fine fall day, come out to the historic town of El Dorado and ride the train.

Monday, October 24, 2011

New locomotive for the railroad

The El Dorado Western Railway Foundation accepted donation of a General Electric 45-ton center cab Diesel-electric locomotive from CemexUSA plant in Pleasanton, California. The engine was built in September 1943. It was originally purchased by Pacific Coast Aggregates. We believe that it worked at the Pleasanton plant its entire working life.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Rail spreader

The maintenance of way crew uses a make-shift rail spreader to adjust the gauge of the rail on the El Dorado Western Railroad. For the past month the crew has been re-ballasting the curve and replacing ties at the private rail crossing in front of The Barn antique shop.

In the photo, project lead Garrett Augustus sets the gauge bar as Billy Bellas puts pressure on the rail jack. Once the track was properly gauged, Jeremy McCormack drove several spikes into the tie to hold the gauge.