By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
Kowhai Park's Tot Town train will be retired and replaced early next year by a brand new $100,000 train.
Purchase of the train will be overseen by the Wanganui Lions Club, with funding pledged by the Powerco Wanganui Trust.
The train has been in service at Kowhai Park since 1963.
The engine has been replaced three times, but this is the first time the entire train has been replaced.
Bob Horsley from Wanganui Lions Club said the current train gets "a fair workout" and is struggling to keep up with demand.
"It's done very well for 44 years, but with 20 people on board the poor thing has trouble getting going.
"The cost of maintaining it has been quite high in the past couple of years."
Train driver Norm Crowe said the train is unable to run for more than two hours a day.
"Oil heats up in the hydraulics, which makes the train lose power. It takes so long to cool down that we can't use it again that day."
This problem won't happen with the new train.
The train will be made by Auckland company Ikon Engineering Development Ltd, which specialises in small trains.
The three-cylinder 28-horsepower diesel engine will pull two carriages carrying 26 people, although another carriage will be added later.
It will have air brakes on both the engine and carriages.
The train is expected to have a life-span of about 50 years. Mr Crowe said the new train will be more powerful and smoother than the current one.
"It will be a lot easier for us to operate, and it will have a much smoother ride for the passengers."
Brian Pinker from Wanganui Lions said the Kowhai Park train is enjoyed by adults and children, locals and visitors.
"It's surprising the number of people who come here just to ride the train.
"Or they enjoyed riding it as kids and are now bringing their own kids and grandkids back to ride the train."
PICTURED: Tot Town train driver Norm Crowe, centre, along with Bob Horsley, left, and Brian Pinker, right, are looking forward to a new train at Kowhai Park, which will come into service early next year.
