Volunteer Railroaders Make the Difference...
- by Ray Schmudde

The volunteers support all walks of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad by aiding with the railroad's many special events. What began several years ago as a loose-knit group pulled in to help staff Narrow Gauge Day (the annual Silverton trip kick-off celebration held at the Durango depot) and Railfest, the volunteers have evolved into a cadre 60 strong, who are brought together by their love of the railroad and their community.

The volunteers staff the Day Out with Thomas™ event, making balloon animals and applying temporary tattoos, among other duties. At the Peanuts™ The Great Pumpkin Patch Express event, the volunteers perform many "patch" roles, such as handing out candy, attending the pumpkin patch where children select their pumpkin, and assisting parents taking photos of their children with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and Lucy. During the holiday season the volunteers become elves and Santa, bringing cheer and the first gift of Christmas on The Polar Express™

At Narrow Gauge Day, the volunteers serve soft drinks, chips and cookies, and almost 2000 hotdogs to the community, all free thanks to the railroad and generous donors. Need information at Railfest? Ask the volunteers who staff the Railfest information tent during the multi-day narrow-gauge celebration. Volunteers can also be found helping on the railroad's photo-train specials. This year the volunteers are greeting the railroad's guests and answering questions on the depot platform in the morning. Who volunteers? All kinds of people. Many are retired, some are still in the prime of their careers, a few are students, and many are married couples. Most volunteers are also longtime rail enthusiasts and history buffs, yet some are not, choosing to volunteer their time to support what they know is their community's major attraction, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The railroad has been a private entity for 128 years. How many private enterprises do you know that have an enthusiastic volunteer support group?