O.J. Watson Park will unveil new train on Saturday

O.J. Watson Park has a new train.

City officials will show off a new locomotive Saturday morning at the city park near McLean and 31st Street South.

“We’re very excited. We got our featured attraction up and running,” said Brian Hill, the supervisor for Watson Park. “This is what really draws people to the park. The other amenities here are great. They’re a lot of fun. People love them. But this is the focal point.”

The city approved the $306,000 purchase in September. The city also bought a center coach car and an extra crossing signal.

Decades of use had caught up to the old locomotive.

“This train was beginning to wear down,” Wichita City Council member Bryan Frye said. “We had to replace this train.”

The additional coach car can hold about 20 riders. Frye said the extra ticket sales could help the city make up for the costs of the updates within three years.

The park sells more than 20,000 tickets to ride the train annually, Frye said, adding that total annual ridership is close to 40,000 people because of coupons and special events.

Wichita-based Chance Rides manufactured the new train locomotive.

O.K. Kids Day

Officials offered a preview of the new train on Thursday. The public unveiling will be Saturday at an event called O.K. Kids Day:

▪ It’s free and runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

▪ It’s for children 5 to 12 years old.

▪ There will kayaking, archery, crafting, mini golf and disc golf.

▪ Fishing clinics will also be offered to kids.

▪ Prizes will be drawn at 11:30 a.m. The ribbon cutting for the new train will be at noon.

▪ There will be a limited number of free T-shirts and hot dogs.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 12:35 PM with the headline "O.J. Watson Park will unveil new train on Saturday."