Park train will keep chugging along

wta160214abtrain.jpg The miniature train ride at Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton. WMM 17Feb14 - FUN: Masterton District Council wants to create a new family facility on the island in Queen Elizabe

Children will continue to be delighted riding the iconic miniature train at Queen Elizabeth Park, thanks to a bunch of people who have volunteered to run the ticket office.

Earlier this month, the Masterton Miniature Railway Society spoke to the Times-Age in an effort to keep the 43-year-old track open for the enjoyment of children, as members aged and fewer people were volunteering their time.

But that has all changed since the article on their plight featured.

Station master Barry Stroud said they had been inundated with enquires from people who wanted to volunteer.

Eight of them were being trained up to run the ticket office, he said.

"People have been knocking down the door wanting to volunteer. It's great," he said.

This means the train has been running daily through the holiday period and the service will remain running Saturdays and Sundays, between 11am and 4pm.

Throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday period, around 1500 children had ridden on the train daily.

"That's just great," he said.

The iconic miniature train service has been running on a track on the island at the park since 1972. Mr Stroud said thanks to the many people who had put their hand up to volunteer, the service could keep running into the future.

"We have sufficient people for a roster now," he said.