Oktoberfest! workday, Open house and Volunteer appreciation - September 26

Oct 28

Our last full summer season workday and Open house was a rousing success that concluded with our Oktoberfest celebration honoring our Volunteers. Special Guests included Bill Kazel and his wife Sharon, and Chuck and Kathy Brantigan. The Kazel’s even took a ride in the Cab of the Plymouth! (see separate post)

More Train Rides!

September 26th completed our scheduled trian rides for the season. One of the biggest successes of this year’s Open Houses was the three days we were able to give train rides with the Plymouth pulling Rider Car 210. Approximately 36 runs were made (that also generated about $1500 in funds). Special thanks for Sam Kunugi are in order for driving (literally) this effort. Also thanks to the amazing team of volunteers that included ticket sellers, brakemen, conductors, and docents.

Sam Kunugi pulls a load of visitors on the Gunnison Main. SPRS President Doug Junda is watching the crossing. On the last run of the day, freight was picked up at the current end of the main. The track crew extending the main had just finished with the rail drill and it was loaded and taken to the track crew shed!

Oktoberfest!

The Annual Oktoberfest in appreciation of our volunteers kicked off immediately folowing the last train run of the day (the “Bill Kazel Special”). A great time was had by the team and our esteemed guests – including several Como town residents. Special thanks to Trackmaster Alex Hois (German pretzels, bier, and desserts), Mike Antolin (Slovenian Sausages from Pueblo and homemade potato salad), Tom Lawson (buns and side dishes), Siegfried Barthels (sauerkraut and more bier), and Dan Silbaugh (vegetarian options).

**The Volunteer area was filled with food, fun, and willing participants!**

**Kathy Brantigan is surprised to see me standing on a chair. Chuck is behind her and Jeannie Lawson (below the window) enjoys some of the excellent spread.**

Left: Alex Hois and Siegfried Barthels again treated us to authentic garb, Right: There are a thousand potential captions for this shot – make up your own!

Volunteers of the Year

This year’s Volunteer of the Year award is shared by SPRS members Jacoby Van Winkle and Jonah Gambone, two of our youngest - yet most dedicated and hardworking volunteers. Jacoby has been volunteering since his early teens and takes on task after task with grit and determination. This year on BPRD he was Conductor/Docent on the first passenger trains in Como in ages. Jonah has also been with us for years and is always willing to pitch in on a wide variety of tasks. Also, an artist specializing in Locomotive drawings, Jonah can often be seeing handing out his artwork to other members as a thank you for a ride to Como or other gestures. Thank you, Jacoby and Jonah! Bravo! Well Deserved!