November 11, 2012

Lake Morena RV

 Campo, CA

We had a very lazy morning and then had waffles for breakfast.  At 1:30 we headed out to the San Diego & Arizona Railway Museum located in Campo, CA just a short distance from where we are staying.

We had planned on going yesterday but between the cold and the rain we decided to postpone until today because it was forecasted to be the nicer of the two days. 

I had read on-line that the museum offers train rides on Saturday and Sunday at 11am and 2:30.  Unfortunately, when we arrived at the station, we found out that the regular train ride was not available because the train is in the process of being decorated for the Christmas season.  The only rides being offered were short hops on a caboose between the museum/restoration center and another County-run attraction called the Stone Store.  We were disappointed but not having any other plans we decided to go ahead and take the ride that was being offered for only a $6 admission fee. 

While we waited for the train to arrive we watched a short video detailing the building of the railway by developer John D Spreckels.  Then the “all aboard” was called and we got on the train and headed to our first stop, the Stone Store built by the Gaskill brothers after their original frame store was attacked by bandits in 1875.  The store functioned as a post office, bank and community center.  It was interesting seeing some of the items that were available for sale during that time.  The second floor of the store, which also served as the last home of the Buffalo Soldiers, houses a museum containing military memorabilia.

 

When we heard the whistle blow we made our way back to where the train had left us off.  We re-boarded and were given a history lesson by our host, one of the many volunteers who operate the train, about what to expect in our next stop at the museum and restoration center.  After disembarking we walked through the restoration center featuring steam locomotives, a postal railcar and passenger railcars including one having a separate section for “whites only”.  There is a picture board describing the role African Americans played in helping to build and run the railroad beginning with newly freed slaves who were given the worst jobs for the least amount of money.

 

We heard the whistle blow and knew it was time to board the train for our return trip to the depot.  Even though we didn’t get to experience the ride we had planned on we still enjoyed our visit to the museum and our short little hops aboard the train.