The New Braunfels Express


Published in the La Vernia News on April 14, 2016

All Aboard the 

New Braunfels Express

All Aborad the New Branufels Express

Everyday Journeys

  Harry and Linda Kaye Perez

The New Braunfels Railroad Museum is fun for all ages. Admission is free to the museum, housed in the restored 1907 !&GN Depot.

      The New Braunfels Historic Railroad and Modelers Society was the brainchild of a group of railroad modelers back in 1984, and is dedicated to the preservation of railroad artifacts and education. But they did much more than that. This group created a wonderful place for children of all ages and railroad aficionados to explore and enjoy the world of trains.

       New Braunfels Historic Railroad and Modelers Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of railroad artifacts and education. Members have a diverse cross section of interests including railroad history, artifact collection, and model railroading in all scales.

Model Train Village

       The museum is located in downtown New Braunfels inside the restored 1907 I&GN Depot.  It is immediately adjacent to one of the busiest North/South Union Pacific railroad tracks in downtown New Braunfels. Over 30 trains every day use these tracks, including the San Antonio to Chicago AMTRACK passenger trains; north-bound trains in the morning, south bound in the afternoon. It includes Old Engine #7, a Missouri Pacific caboose, a dining car, a complete scaled village, the reconstruction train depot, and artifacts and photographs from the golden age of railroading.

       Locomotive #9 was built by the H. K. Porter Locomotive Co., in July 1942 for the Florida Portland Cement Company, was used by several other businesses over the years, and thanks to donations from area residents, was purchased by the museum in November 1993.

        The Doyle P. Bond Pullman Dining Car, built in 1922, can seat up to 48 and is a unique venue for showers, parties, dinners, luncheons, meetings and seminars. Reservations can be made through the museum. Those making reservations can choose one of the many caters in New Braunfels, or you can bring your own decorations, food and drinks.

Dining Car

       The Box Car houses an N-Scale town complete with houses, train tracks, a ship channel, a freeway, a wind farm, a crime scene, a junkyard, and, according to Arlene Rhodes, Station Manger, even a funeral procession and on-going burial.

     Missouri Pacific Caboose was built in 1950 in Sedalia Missouri, and acquired by the New Braunfels Museum in July 1987. Currently, the inside of the caboose is undergoing some changes. When completed, it was resemble what it looked like in earlier days.

    Kids Fun Day is the first Saturday each month and is one of the most popular programs offered by the New Braunfels Train Museum.  Kids can “run the train” and become a Junior Engineer.  They can see the Lego train on display and even build their own Lego model. Of course, the entire museum is available in addition to the special kids events.

The best part is that the museum is open to the public at NO CHARGE and all are welcome.

Old Engine #7
Inside the Museum
Waiting for a Train

Fine Out More

New Braunfels Railroad Museum

302 West San Antonio Street

(830) 627-2447

www.newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org

 WINTER HOURS- Labor Day to Memorial Day

Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 12pm to 4pm

Saturday, 10am to 4pm

Sunday, 12pm to 4pm

 SUMMER HOURS- Memorial Day to Labor Day

Monday – Friday 11am to 4pm

Saturday- 10am to 4pm

Sunday- 12pm to 4pm



 


   © Harry Perez 2012