Flagstaff Coconino and Western Railroad

08/27/2026

Current project - The Pilot -
A Pilot or cowcatcher on any locomotive is a time consuming project. Mine is a replica of the C21 #361's. To make the triangle hoop I needed to find some 1-in angle and mill it down to 5/8. The 1-in angle was old storage barn track from the old Scottsdale Live Steamers car barn. Had to mill down about a 4-ft piece from 1 by 1 down to 5/8 by 5/8. Then had to mill and cut notches so I can bend it into a triangle shape and still look like a prototypical pilot. Also fabbed up a bending jig to get the right radius on the bend. Next up are the bottom plates on the corners of the triangle and the rear angle uprights. These will set the height above the rail.

08/16/2026

Took a break from the small live steam to work on the full size steam. I'm a crew member on the D&RGW #315 based in CO/NM currently on the C&TS. This past week we had our work week and annual inspection with the FRA present. We gave it a boiler wash, a hydrostatic test, and internal inspection to make sure the boiler was sound. I volunteered to climb through the small steam dome hole and crawl inside the boiler to inspect all the braces and staybolts on the crownsheet.We also pulled the rear air pump and put a new gasket set on it. We also inspected the inside of the tender tank and checked all the running gear and made sure all the cotter pins were still there and in good shape. Then we fired it up towards the end of the week and did the required tests on the air compressors and safeties. Then played with it in the yards for a while. Now it's ready for the excursions in September.

08/11/2026

08/09/2026

Mark your calendars: the D&RGW 315 will be pulling excursions on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad on September 27th and 28th. Tickets will be available shortly — we'll share the link the moment they go live, so keep an eye on this page.

Can't make it this fall? There's another way to be part of history. 👇

We're working to complete the twelfth and final railcar for our Outdoor Railroad Museum in Silverton: the Primos Tank Car — a genuinely one-of-a-kind piece, the only wood-frame tank car with an 1870s-style tank in existence.

And right now, your gift goes further: an anonymous donor has pledged $50,000 — once we raise the first $60,000. Every contribution brings us closer to unlocking that pledge and completing this rare restoration.

💚 Support the Primos Tank Car: drhs315.org/primos-tank-car

Every gift, large or small, makes a difference. Thank you for helping preserve narrow gauge history!

08/09/2026

While cruising the Facebook I ran a cross a picture of me running the WP 165 for the bigboy event. That was a fun but hot day.

07/19/2026

#9's Keim steam pump

07/19/2026

07/18/2026

A trip around part of the track on the Fawnbrook Northern

07/18/2026

A beautiful day to be steaming around in the white mountains in Arizona