The Little Train at Soden’s Grove will have its engine transplant, a new roof for its depot, a new platform and more because of a fund-raising drive that more than doubled its original $20,000 goal.
“As of yesterday, we had $43,981 deposited,” Les Nuessen said Tuesday afternoon. Nuessen is a member of the Sertoma Club, which operates the train. “This Thursday we’re going to get the Sutherland’s check, which is $5,000.”
Money is still being raised at Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing Central, where the company will match dollar-for-dollar donations from its employees. Planet Sub recently wrapped up a day-long event that will give 15 percent of the proceeds to the Little Train Fund. In addition, the family of the late George Eugene Bachman designated the fund as the memorial for Bachman, who died March 13.
Donations from Emporia school district staff and administrators were to be given to Sertoma this week, and amounted to approximately $3,050.
“I think we’ve reached our goal,” Nuessen said. “And there’s more coming, so we’re happy about that. That will give us a nest egg to help us take care of the train in the future.”
The drive began in late January, when Sertoma members decided they would need to replace the diesel engine and electric drive motors on the miniature train in Soden’s Grove. Otherwise, they said, the 48-year-old miniature train would not run through the summer.
Schoolchildren, grandparents, community members and businesses jumped aboard with enthusiasm. The drive reached its goal in February, and the club decided to use any more money raised to replace the roof at the train’s depot and to replace the platform, which was beginning to deteriorate.
Now, Nuessen said, all of that work can be done and leftover money will be saved for repairs and maintenance that may be needed in the future.
Nuessen said that extra money, dedicated for use on the train, has been put in the care of the Emporia Community Foundation, where it will remain until needed.
Repair work on the train is nearing completion. Dan Klingensmith and his crew at DPP Manufacturing have been making the repairs and adjustments. Nuessen said that the new electric drive motors recently arrived. The target date for completion is April 1.
“He actually cut the train right in two and he added 17 inches in the front part of it, and then moved the engineer’s compartment back toward the rear of the engine a little bit,” Nuessen said. “... That was done in order to be able to put the generator unit and the fuel tank and the air compressor and everything up in the front of the engine. Before, we had the gas back behind the engineer.”
Charlie LeClair of Emporia Roofing donated his labor to replace the depot roof, and that work has been completed, Nuessen said.
Sertoma members are discussing design plans for the railroad platform and options that may be available. A decision on the design is expected soon.
Nuessen said that the club is planning a celebration to inaugurate the revamped train.
“The details haven’t been finalized,” Nuessen said, estimating that a grand opening will be held around the Memorial Day Weekend.
Before the grand opening, a celebration will be held for the children who held “penny war” fund raisers at four elementary schools — Logan Avenue, Village, Riverside and Timmerman. Nuessen said club members wanted those children to have a private time for riding the train.
“We’ll have a special time for them,” he said. “On those days, of course, it will be free for the kids.”