MANKATO — A small passenger train will make its debut run Monday at Kiwanis Holiday Lights.
The engine and three attached cars that operate on wheels rather than a track in Sibley Park are decked out in colorful exterior lights, according to a press release from Mankato Area Foundation.
Up to 55 passengers will be able to view the Kiwanis annual holiday lights display while aboard. One of the train’s cars is designed to accommodate three wheelchairs as well as its passengers.
Funding was provided by the Curt and Debbie Fisher Donor Advised Fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.
More than three years have passed since Holiday Lights organizers’ came up with the idea of offering train rides for touring the display. Red tape, rocky seas, a pandemic and an engine rebuild were roadblocks.
“This has been an amazing ride, and we are so appreciative to Curt and the Foundation for their support in making this happen,” stated Scott Wojcik, president of Kiwanis Holiday Lights.
Curt Fisher created the design and worked with a company in China that specializes in manufacturing trains. The completed project was in transit to Mankato in 2021 when the trip hit a snag. Delivery of the containers carrying the train’s components was stalled due to a backlog at shipping ports as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The train did not arrive in Mankato until January 2022.
When the three shipping containers were opened by members of the Kiwanis Holiday Lights team, they discovered the train’s engine and one of the cars were damaged.
A request for help was answered by Taylor Haley, owner of Greg’s Champion Auto. A team from the local repair shop, led by Dale Mize, worked on fixing up the train for several months.
“This is an absolutely amazing addition to Kiwanis Holiday Lights experience. We are so pleased to finally be able to show it off!” Wojcik said in the release. “We’re anticipating we’ll still be figuring out some of the nuances of running a passenger train. So, for this year, there may not be a regular schedule, but we’ll have it available as much as we can.”
Kiwanis Holiday Lights is open evenings through Dec. 31. Free-will donations of cash or non-perishable food items are accepted at the gate.