T-Rex Express - Totally Amazed

I am totally amazed by my community in the San Luis Valley.  They have joined together and donated towards making the T-Rex Express an awesome and wonderful experience. PALS Childrens Program of La Puente in Alamosa (Positive Activities Lift the Spirit) was established to help homeless children receive positive experiences that they otherwise might not have.  PALS kids don't often get to do the fun stuff that other kids get to do so our community made it possible for every PALS kid to get a ticket and a T-shirt for the event.

Businesses also donated printing for tickets, toys and prizes, t-shirts with our dinosaur logo, cookies, water bottles, dig kits, lanyards, and personal time.  Churches supported the event by announcing this family oriented activity in their services and handed out posters. Radio stations aired PSAs. The newspaper ran ads for it several times with our logo in color. The railroad put it on their website and signs.  The Welcome Center of Alamosa also put it on their sign. Wow!  What and awesome community!

The T-rex Express is a fundraiser for Sunshine Christian School.  They collaborated with the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad to take passengers to a simulated dig site and dig for real Mammoth bones, a prehistoric mammal found in the San Luis Valley.

Ranger Patrick, from the Sand Dunes National Park will be giving a program with stories, facts, and songs.  Kids will get to pet a giant salamander, take pictures with Rex the friendly T-rex, eat cookies, and enter to win prizes that include dinosaur books, t-shirts, and mini digs in a box.

Jim Moon wrote two songs for the event and will be performing these on the train ride to and from the dig site. 

This all takes place on March 27, 2011.  There will be a photographer taking pictures of the kids by the train so ticket holders need to be there a half hour to an hour before the train leaves the depot.  They will be able to pick up their pictures after the train returns from the trip. Pictures are $15.00 for 5 X 7 and $20.00 for 8 X 10 and are cash or check only.  There will be two runs.  One leaving at 2 pm and one leaving at 4 pm.  There is a limited number of seats so call 719-587-0520 and reserve your tickets now.

Riding the Potato Valley Express Train

On Memorial Day 2010 we went for a train ride on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.  We just did a short trip to Monte Vista called the Potato Valley Express.  Well, what actually happened is that I took Abby and Sebby to ride the train.  I had looked on line at their train schedule and I read that Memoral Day Weekend the train was opening for passengers.  They carry freight all year long, but the tourist season opens on this weekend.  I know the people there and have worked with them on the Gingerbread Express at Christmas time.  So they knew how to get in touch with me.  When we arrived  they told me that particular run wasn't going until Friday. We were very disappointed and decided to go get Callie and Casey, Davy, and Cate and head to the Alligator Farm.

About 3 miles north of town I got a call from the railroad and the ticket agent said they would take us if we still wanted to go.  They would put a passenger car on for us. So we did a quick U turn and made it in time to ride.  We were the only passengers and Jody, our conductor gave us special attention. 

The route is called The Potato Valley Express.  What they do is haul freight and they put a passenger train on right behind the engine. Then they drop freight off at the Co-op or other places along the line,  They may pick up freight too.  Many of the freight cars contain potatos or grain.  Thus the name of the route.

Waving good-bye to our railroad friends.

Grammy, Sebby, and Abby had our choice of any seat in the car.

                                                                                    Visiting with Jody at the park in Monte Vista.

Jody let the kids watch for crossings and radio the engineer that all was clear.  They had to do that because after dropping freight off at the Co-op the train "backed" in to Monte Vista.

Loading back up after getting some lunch at a Mexican Restaurant in Monte Vista.

When we got back to the station Jody took Sebby for a tour of the engine and to meet the engineer.  They let Sebby sit in the drivers seat and blow the horn and bells.  Sebby was thrilled!At the end of the tour Jody gave a Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head to each of the kids.  It was a really fun day and I am glad that we got the chance to do it.  The day was beautiful - it was a perfect day for a train ride!