Riverview Park and Zoo's Miniature Train Goes Off the Rails From Vandalism; Trademark Bell Stolen

Riverview Park and Zoo’s miniature train was vandalized and had its historic bell stolen announced on Saturday.

Last year, $19,940 was raised from a 308-piece, 11 x 17-inch puzzle of the current 1860 locomotive replica fundraising campaign towards a new train. Photo courtesy of Rivervew Park & Zoo.

Zoo staff discovered the damage on Friday morning during their spring maintenance but is not confirmed if the incident was on two separate occasions or one. No suspects were located during the incident according to the Peterborough Police.

“Some days are more challenging than others. Unfortunately, vandals have broken into the train tunnel, damaged our venerable train locomotive & stolen its signature brass bell,” said Jim Moloney, zoo manager and curator. “If you have info that may lead to the return of the bell, please contact us or Peterborough Police.”

The train was scheduled to run for Victoria Day weekend (May 21-22) according to the Zoo’s Facebook page before discovering the vandalism.

“In addition to the cost of repair/replacement, thoughtless acts like this really have a negative impact on our team of dedicated and passionate staff,” said Maloney on Facebook.

The train‘s parts are no longer manufactured and require an engineer to create according to Paul Hartung, zoo board member in a prior interview.

The miniature train ride is an 1860 locomotive replica. Located under sabre jet, the train track is over two kilometres and the ride is roughly ten minutes long according to the zoo’s website.

The train was built in 1974, costs two dollars to ride and is free for children under two.

The country’s only accredited free-admission zoo has over 55 acres of the zoo on the Otonabee River with over 25 exhibits and 40 animal species.

The zoo’s goal is to still have the train operable for Victoria Day weekend.

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Jigsaw Puzzles of Peterborough Zoo's Miniature Train Sold To Fundraise New Locomotive

The Riverview Park & Zoo is selling jigsaw puzzles of its iconic James Hamilton miniature train in a fundraising effort for a new locomotive that launched on Friday.

The train travels on a bridge through a forest of artificial and natural attractions but does not run through the zoo. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Roughly 750 copies of the 308-piece puzzle have been made to help fund the required $650,000 — along with other fundraisers — for a new train projected for 2023 according to Paul Hartung, zoo board member.

The puzzle is sold for $20 at the zoo’s gift shop and stores such as Brant Basics, Griffins Greenhouses, Fork in the Road Country Market and Ennismore Pharmacy. Other stores could soon follow suit.

Calyptic Creations, a commercial printer based out of Calgary created the puzzle where Hartung knew through the Rotary Club of Peterborough.

The train needs to be replaced since its parts are no longer manufactured and getting new parts would be costly says Hartung.

“We would have to hire an engineer to make a new part for us and it could cost us roughly $200-$300 an hour,” he explained.

The train opens during the summer season from daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Photo Courtesy of Paul Hartung.

Hartung researched the campaign idea in December last year. The zoo’s advisory committee agreed to the idea and began planning the fundraising process.

The train was built in 1974 that costs two dollars to ride and is free for children under two.

The miniature train ride is an 1860 locomotive replica. Located under sabre jet, the train track is over two kilometres and the ride is roughly ten minutes long according to the zoo’s website.

“This is a way that can probably help us prepare for a replacement of the train and hopefully the new train will last us another 50 years and another three or four generations,” reflected Hartung. “The fun of it is to go for the ride.”

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Riverview Park & Zoo Train To Open May Long Weekend

Barring any issues with their spring inspection, the Riverview Park & Zoo's train will open on the May long weekend. "We haven't missed it yet so I hope there's no issues," the zoo's Jim Moloney tells PTBOCanada.

The train has been a big hit at the zoo since first opening in the early '70s. Here are some pictures of the construction and train from those early days...

The splash pad is more weather dependant but should be open by mid-June, Moloney tells PTBOCanada.

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The Train At Riverview Park & Zoo Is Now Running

The extra work on the tracks at the Riverview Park & Zoo has been completed and they have passed their spring inspection!

So the train is now running...

Toot toot -> Whoot Whoot! :) pic.twitter.com/DIAnhPhU8M

— Riverview Park & Zoo (@RiverviewZoo) May 26, 2015

It's Hump Day—and the train is now operating. This makes Gobi happy.

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