Deming Park’s miniature train in need of a new motor

By Arthur Foulkes
The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE June 30, 2009 09:56 pm

— Summer at Deming Park means hearing the high-pitched whistle of the “Spirit of Terre Haute” miniature train and the sound of laughing – and sometimes screaming – kids.
“Are you all ready?” shouted Melissa Hansen, a City of Terre Haute employee taking her turn driving the small train through the center of the park.
“Yes!” shouted back some of the approximately one dozen kids seated in the passenger cars behind the train’s old-style engine.
In a moment, the “Spirit,” which has been running every summer since 1967, was rolling along on its undersized rails. When the train entered the “tunnel” – a long storage garage on the tracks – many of the kids on board screamed.
“They get so excited,” Hansen said between rides. “There are not very many of these trains left.”
Now the old train at Deming Park needs a helping hand from the Terre Haute community.
The train’s large motor, also about 42 years old, is on its last legs and needs to be replaced. The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department estimates a new motor will cost about $8,000.
The Spirit of Terre Haute runs daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting, said Micah Gallion, director of recreation for the Parks Department.
Tickets are $1 per person. Kids under 2 ride free.
“My brother thought it was slow, but it was fast,” said Ginger Rayle, 7, of Brazil. Ginger was riding the train with her mom, Julia Rayle, and her cousin, Chloe Rayle, 6, who is visiting from the northeastern Indiana town of Garrett.
“They love riding around and seeing the park,” Julia Rayle said, sitting onboard the Spirit of Terre Haute on Monday afternoon. “It’s always the first thing they want to do when they come to the park is ride the train.”
A train ride at Deming Park lasts about six minutes. Children of all ages enjoy riding, as do adults and couples, Hansen said.
“I enjoy seeing the little kids smile,” Hansen said, standing by the train’s hot and grimy-looking ancient motor. She remembers riding the train about 25 years ago during visits to the park with her family, she said, and she also has brought her own kids to ride the train.
Now the train’s old motor needs to sit idle for about 15 minutes after every two or three rides through the park, Hansen noted. “It overheats really bad.”
The Spirit of Terre Haute runs daily during the summer holiday months. After Vigo County schools return to session, the train runs on weekends through mid-October and then again at Halloween and for Christmas in the Park, Gallion said.
Earlier this year, Torner Center employees Traci Sutton, Shari Manning and Brandy Lanahan repainted the old train and the small “Spirit of Terre Haute” water tower. They also placed new decals on the train, Gallion said.
Estimates to hire a professional to repaint the train reached about $18,000, Gallion noted. The Torner staff managed to get the job done for less than $1,000, she said.
Now the Parks Department is seeking donations from people who want to see the little train keep chugging. Anyone interested in contributing to the purchase of a new motor may contact the Torner Center at Deming Park at (812) 232-0147 or the Parks Department at (812) 232-2727.
“People come from all over” to ride the Spirit of Terre Haute, Hansen said, smiling. “Generation to generation … It’s very important to these people.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

You can help
• The 42-year-old “Spirit of Terre Haute” miniature train needs a new motor.
Cost: About $8,000.
• To make a donation, contact the Torner Center at Deming Park at (812) 232-0147 or the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department at (812) 232-2727.