Save the Train
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The little train in Soden’s Grove is terminal.
Without a rebuilding of its drive unit, it is not expected to survive through summer, according to two members of Sertoma Club who are involved in a fund-raising effort to save the train.
Les Nuessen and Elton Jensen said that $20,000 or more will be needed to make the major repairs. They have secured an estimate of $20,000 from a local machine shop.
“It’s over 50 years old,” Nuessen said. “All the mechanical parts are bad. We had a lot of problems with it this last summer.”
The club was forced to cancel some scheduled runs and some of the birthday parties that had been scheduled until mechanics made enough repairs to coax it into running.
“What we did was just kind of a stop-gap measure,” Nuessen said. “It urgently needs some repairs and if we don’t get it repaired, it won’t run through summer.”
If the money is raised, the train will receive a new diesel generator, with drive motors consisting of electric motors on the wheels.
“In theory, that will do it and in theory it will do it for a number of years,” Nuessen said.
The men said that, building on estimates from income, at least 6,000 to 7,000 paying passengers ride the train each year, in addition to the passengers who ride the train during birthday parties. The train costs 50 cents to ride as an individual and $25 an hour for rides during parties.
“You don’t realize how popular this train is to the community until it breaks down,” he said.
Sertoma plans to have the train ready by Memorial Day. It normally is available by April 1 for parties, but that will not be the case this year.
“When it’s running, it’s really a community service,” Jensen said. “We do a lot of benefits” to raise funds for other deserving individuals and organizations, and as a complementary for events such as the annual zoo open house at Soden’s Grove.
Day-care organizations and even nursing home residents are brought to Soden’s Grove on Thursday mornings to ride the train.
The train also is open evenings on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and runs from 6 p.m. until dark. It can be rented for parties at a cost of $25 an hour on Sunday afternoons.
Sertoma members donate their time to drive the train.
Donations to help rebuild the train may be sent to: Sertoma Club of Emporia, Miniature Train Fund, PO Box 593, Emporia KS 66801-0593.
Sertoma members Nuessen, Jensen, Mark Summey, Bob Hush, Kerry Wallace, and Walt Henrie all are working on the project.
Sertoma is a not-for-profit civic organization, the men said, and donations should be tax-deductible.
abc123 (anonymous) says...
Our family loves the train, I wish I had all the money to fix it myself!! I am definately going to donate, it is such a fun thing to go do in this town. We can't lose it! My son's birthday was so memorable because of the train, and the guys that run it are great! Good Luck Sertoma!!!
January 24, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
Everyone can spare a $1, $5 or $10 and it really does add up quick so yes I will be donating. Tax deduction isnt important to me but maybe it will give the incentive for others to give more. I have no doubt they will be successful at raising the money.
January 24, 2007 at 9:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JWerly (anonymous) says...
This train is one of the few family-oriented activities available in Emporia throughout summer and it is so inexpensive. We always make a family trip of walking to the park, riding the train, and seeing the animals. I hope we can pull together as a community to get the train running great.
January 25, 2007 at 11:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )