Pueblo Railway Foundation

TO OPERATE THE PUEBLO RAILWAY MUSEUM FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISPLAYING AND INTERPRETING HISTORIC RAILROAD EQUIPMENT AND ARTIFACTS, TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RAILROADS TO THE PUEBLO AREA, AND TO PRESERVE ITEMS OF HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THE MUSEUM OPERATES TRAIN RIDES USING ONE OF ITS THREE HISTORIC GP7 DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVES AND ITS TWO HISTORIC CABOOSES. EVENTS ARE REGULARLY SCHEDULED AT EASTER TIME, FATHER'S DAY, JULY 4TH, HALLOWEEN, AND AT CHRISTMASTIME. SCHOOL GROUP TOURS AND PRIVATE CHARTERS ARE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MANY AREA RESIDENTS HAVE NEVER RIDDEN A TRAIN OR BEEN INSIDE A CABOOSE. OUR FARES ARE VERY LOW, PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO RIDE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORIC RAILROAD EQUIPMENT IN THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION. EDUCATIONAL HANDOUTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THESE EVENTS. MAINTENANCE EXPENSES, DIESEL FUEL, OIL, AND OTHER EXPENSES ARE NOT FULLY COVERED BY THE TRAIN RIDE FARES. GENEROUS DONATIONS BY OUR MEMBERS HELP OFFSET THESE COSTS. THE FOUNDATION'S VIEWPOINT IS THAT THE MUSEUM IS NOT A TOURIST RAILROAD BUT RATHER AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR AREA RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT AND RIDE IN RAILROAD EQUIPMENT THAT HELPED TO BUILD THE CITY OF PUEBLO.

THE FOUNDATION MAINTAINS AN OFFICE NEAR THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION, FROM WHICH IT COORDINATES MUSEUM ACTIVITIES. A PUEBLO COUNTY & CITY OF PUEBLO PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROVIDES FUNDS FOR RENT AND UTILITIES, ALLOWING THE FOUNDATION TO ALLOCATE REMAINING INCOME TO GROUNDS AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND HISTORIC EQUIPMENT RESTORATION. THE MUSEUM PROPERTY INCLUDES A FIVE-ACRE TRAIN YARD. WHEN DESERT WINDS BLOW, DRY WEEDS AND TRASH ACCUMULATE ON THE PROPERTY AND REQUIRE CONSTANT CLEAN-UP. RAILS, TIES, AND SWITCHES MUST BE CONTINUALLY INSPECTED, MAINTAINED, AND PERIODICALLY REPLACED TO ENSURE SAFE AND SMOOTH TRAIN RIDES. THE DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES REQUIRE REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE CABOOSES NEED CLEANING OF THEIR INTERIORS FOLLOWING EVENTS. SUPPLIES FOR ALL GROUNDS AND EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE ARE PAID FROM MUSEUM FUNDS; THE WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED BY MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS.

SINCE 2020, THE FOUNDATION HAS BENEFITED FROM THE GOOD FORTUNE AND GENEROSITY OF ONE OF ITS MEMBERS. THIS MEMBER WISHES TO DONATE COMMON STOCK TO CHARITY, AND HAS CHOSEN THE PUEBLO RAILWAY FOUNDATION AS THE CHARITY. IRS RULES STATE THAT WHEN STOCK IS DONATED TO A 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION, THE DONOR IS NOT REQUIRED TO PAY CAPITAL GAIN TAX ON THE INCREASED VALUE OF THE STOCK. THE FOUNDATION CAN THEN CONVERT THIS STOCK TO USABLE FUNDS, ALSO WITHOUT PAYING CAPITAL GAINS BECAUSE OF ITS 501(C)3 STATUS. THE DONOR OF THE STOCK HAS STIPULATED THAT THE PROCEEDS ARE TO BE USED TO FUND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS, CAPITAL ASSET PURCHASES, AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE FOUNDATION'S OPERATIONS AND OVERALL PRESENCE. THE BULK OF THESE FUNDS SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION'S D STREET STATION PROJECT, WHICH WILL DEVELOP THE PROPERTY SURROUNDING THE FOUNDATION'S RESTORATION SHOP ON D STREET BY EXPANDING THE RAILYARD AND SUPPORT A FUTURE TRAIN DEPOT BUILDING. THIS "D STREET STATION" WILL BECOME THE MAIN ENTRY POINT FOR OUR RAILFANS DURING THE MUSEUM'S PUBLIC EVENTS.