Beloved Folsom mini train will keep chugging along with new owners

A beloved fixture of Folsom City Lions Park will keep chugging along into the foreseeable future. The Folsom Valley Railway, a mini live steam train, has been a favorite of children for decades, and will continue that tradition with new owners. The Folsom City Council approved a resolution during its June 11 meeting, which authorizes the city manager to transition the railway from owners Terry and Geri Gold of Golden Spike Entertainment to soon-to-be owners Truson Buegel and Stephanie Bea Roy. The railway has been in existence at City Lions Park since 1970 and includes 4,020 feet of track around the Folsom Zoo. The 10-minute out-and-back ride is just long enough for its many toddler-aged passengers, though it's not a surprise when children ask, "Can we ride again?" Since the early 1990s, the railway has been operated by Golden Spike Entertainment, owned by the Golds. Their agreement with the city expires in December of this year; the Golds have expressed a desire to retire and relocate, so for a period of time, the future of the popular railway became uncertain. At one point, there was a prospective buyer who wanted to buy all the railway assets and equipment and move them to Utah. Gold Mountain California News Media reported in February that Terry Gold offered to sell the complete railway to the city for $375,000. At that time, Gold said the train operation was profitable with about 40,000 riders each year and generated revenue between $100,000 and $114,000 per year. There were also several private parties who were interested in buying the train operation, and the Golds began meeting with the various prospective buyers. In the end, the Golds concluded the best candidates were Buegel and Roy. "Mr. Buegel's selection was based on his extensive expertise in steam train operations and maintenance and for his tenure operating trains at Disneyland Park," states the report by Kelly Gonzalez, Parks and Recreation Director. "Mr. Buegel's background not only aligns with the established standards set by Mr. Gold but also positions him as a capable steward who can effectively navigate the complexities of managing a community asset. By assuming the existing concession agreement and committing to maintaining operational consistency, Mr. Buegel's appointment signifies a seamless transition." An added positive is that Buegel is a Folsom resident, according to the staff report. With this last step in making the transition of ownership a reality, those concerned about whether the little train in Folsom would continue can worry no more. The operating agreement will be transferred to Buegel later this year. "This selection supports a strategic decision to ensure continuity of service and excellence in the operation of the railway at City Lions Park," staff said. The Folsom Valley Railway is the only 12-inch gauge railroad remaining in the United States and is one of six mini-scale replica steam-powered railroads in public operation in California. The railway operates two mini-authentic steam engines – one engine is "Cricket" and was built in 1950. "Cricket" ran in Berkeley's Tilden Park for 20 years; in 1970, the engine was sold to the Sherman Brothers and brought to Folsom, where it has been running since. The second engine, 3001, was built in 1949 and ran in Sacramento's William Land Park in 1950 for four months, but the small population there at the time couldn't support a train operation. The engine was sold to a private collector in Seattle but was eventually brought to Sacramento in 2007, where it became one of two engines operating on the Folsom Valley Railway. Operations of the two engines are expected to continue without a hitch; the city reports there will be no financial impact on Folsom. Existing hours of the train operation will remain the same.