‘All Aboard’ Sounds for Free Children’s Train Rides in Torrance

The children lined the railroad tracks, waving and shouting as the scale-model steam train came around the bend and sounded its whistle.

“All aboard,” shouted the engineer when the train reached the cheering children. They scurried to find a seat, and when they were ready, the train started up with a puff of white steam and shouts from the smiling children.

That was the scene last month at Charles Wilson Park in Torrance when the Lomita-based Southern California Live Steamers club offered free rides to nearly 400 children aboard the four 18-inch-high scale model trains the club brought to the park.

Club members and Torrance city officials hope the enthusiasm is repeated this Sunday and that it cements a tradition on the first Sunday of every month when the trains will run along the 1,000-foot track at the eastern end of the park.

The goal is to educate youngsters about the impact of the railroads on the growth of the South Bay, said club members and city officials.

“We want to get the younger generation interested in trains,” said Wolfgang Fengler, president of the 50-member miniature train club. “Because if we die, the interest dies with us.”

The trains are working scale models of old steam trains, which can carry about 20 children while running at speeds of 10 to 15 m.p.h.

The club had offered the free train rides on the Charles Wilson Park tracks before, but only on holidays or other special occasions. The tracks were laid in October, 1987, with 9,000 ties donated by Watt Investment Properties and track from Reynolds Metal Co., said Fengler.

Beginning this weekend, the rides will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. on some holidays, but always on the first Sunday of the month.

State officials last month gave approval to run the trains regularly in the park, which the state gave to the city, said city Parks and Recreation Director Gene Barnett.

But even before the state gave final approval, Fengler, his 15-year-old son, Wolfgang Allen, and other members of the miniature train club spent several weekends pulling weeds and cleaning up trash around the tracks.

“We just wanted to straighten things up a bit,” he said.

The club members--many are retired residents of the area--raise donations to pay for the coal-based fuel used to power the steam engines. The city contributed the land.

Members of the club are considering restoring a red antique caboose, which they would convert into a classroom or exhibit hall to teach children about railroads, Fengler said.

The club has discussed adding a replica of the historic Torrance overpass as well as a miniature train depot. Fengler, a retired Torrance firefighter, said he does not know what it would cost for the entire project, which he would like to complete in three years. He hopes much of the money will come from donations and volunteer work.

He would like someday to extend the tracks to include a half-mile spur along the southern side of the park.

“For now we’ll just kind of take it a step at a time,” he said.