As millions of tiny holiday lights illuminate the darkness at Kingfisher Park, children and adults alike excitedly wait for a turn aboard the nostalgic miniature train.

Safely stored in its tunnel much of the year, it chugs forth from its hibernation each winter season to transport passengers through the holiday light display as well as each Independence Day patriotic celebration.

A center of attraction for over 50 years, the little engine draws a crowd every time it roars to life, rumbling down the track with an occasional sounding of its whistle, reminiscent of days gone by.

Originally purchased from the City of Carnegie by the Kingfisher Odd Fellows, the little train was donated to the City of Kingfisher sometime later and has carried many passengers over its tracks through the years.

A photo in the Oct. 23, 1969, issue of the Kingfisher Times depicts the newly purchased miniature train with “Butch” Hansens in the engineer’s seat and the following information:

“Coming with the train were three open air coaches and 1,700 feet of track. The engine weighs 6,600 pounds, “Butch” Hansens said, and is powered by a Ford motor. It has a whistle and a bell and emits real smoke, produced by oil dropping on the manifold.”

For years the train traveled on a small loop of track from its storage tunnel near State Highway 33 and along Uncle John Creek – until a state labor department inspection determined erosion near the creek had made it unsafe for the little train and its passengers to continue on its path.

The train was taken out of commission until the tracks could be relocated.

As the little train sat idly collecting dust, local visionaries came up with an idea which would transform the park into a spectacular display of lights during the holiday season and in turn changed the future of the little train as well.

With the successful birth of Kingfisher’s inaugural holiday light display, Kingfisher in Lights, in the mid-90s, then-City Manager Reuben Pulis and City Commissioner Francis Schwarz initiated a plan to restore the train and its tracks.

Maintenance of the train and railroad track (along with all Kingfisher parks, golf course and cemetery) is the responsibility of the City of Kingfisher Parks Department.

Retired Parks Superintendent Shawn Barrett remembers that once additional track was located at an Indian reservation near Houston, Texas, he and other city employees made the trek to purchase enough to expand the train’s route.

The existing track was relocated and extended from less than one-fourth of a mile to just over a mile, with the addition of the new track, Barrett said.

Along with a longer and improved route through the park, the old train also needed a facelift.

A major one.

Luckily, another city employee, Everette Dunlap, held a hankering to restore the little train for some time and now the door was open.

Dunlap, a city transfer station employee, would be the main contributor to bring the miniature train back to life.

Dunlap and Schwarz had ideas for the restoration, but traveled to several locations, including Duncan as well as a stop in Kansas, to check out other trains in operation to gather inspiration.

“They went to different places to look at trains and get ideas,” current Kingfisher Mayor (and Schwarz’s daughter) Roxie Alexander said. “It was quite a project they were all working on together.”

With ideas in hand, the train was stripped to its dolly and the work began to not only restore it, but produce a miniature train which would more authentically represent its full-size steam engine counterpart, Barrett said.

An oilfield separator was used for the new diesel engine and most everything was hand-crafted with a lot of parts being donated, he said.

“All the workers in the parks department helped including myself, Terry Hertensen and Roger McAdams as well as Commissioner Schwarz and others,” Barrett said.

“It was a joint effort, but mainly it was Everette Dunlap.”

The extensive restoration included making the train cab from steel and expanding its size, enclosing the passenger car and caboose and constructing it to look like “it would have back in the day,” Barrett said.

Also integrating a piece of history into the project, the wood flooring of the former Washington Grade School was repurposed after its demolition to create new seats in the caboose and passenger car, he added.

Other features would include a depot near the park entrance, new train storage tunnel adorned with historic murals and exchange switches built into the train track.

“Everyone did a lot to bring that little train to life,” Barrett added.

The restoration was just the beginning, as a lot of maintenance is required to keep the train chugging down the tracks every year.

In anticipation of Kingfisher Winter Nights, current Parks Superintendent Gary Kochenower, and employees Joel Lowes, Ryan McAdams and Brent Townsend were busy this fall preparing for the many passengers it draws to the train’s depot.

Along with the usual yearly railroad and train maintenance, they also removed a portion of track and a wooden bridge near the depot to make improvements.

They replaced the bridge with culverts, laid down gravel and replaced the track “making it safer,” McAdams said.

“It takes a lot of upkeep on the tracks and train to make sure it runs smoothly and safely,” McAdams added.

“It’s inspected every year to make sure everything is safe and functioning properly.”

Working for the city for 34 years, Kochenower said he has fond memories of riding the original train as a kid and also holds good memories sitting behind the wheel as he and other parks employees take turns as the engineer transporting passengers down its wending path.

Recalling a time he was driving the train, Kochenower said someone started singing Christmas carols and soon everyone aboard had joined in the chorus as they made their way through the holiday lights.

Depending on the weather, as many as 500 people a night may ride the train through the holiday lights, now operated as Kingfisher Winter Nights, he added.

In addition to its popularity at Christmas, the train also is a feature of the annual Independence Day celebration at Kingfisher Park.

“Having our train in running condition in Kingfisher is such a valuable asset,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shauna Rupp said.

“Very few communities have something as nostalgic as that anymore.”

The parks department deserves a lot of thanks for making sure the train is maintained and ready to serve the community, she added.

“Seeing the smiles of the kids is great,” Lowes said, “but adults love it too, sometimes getting right back in line for another round.

“A lot of credit goes to Everette Dunlap and Francis Schwarz.”

They worked hard on it and spent a lot of time after hours restoring the train for the community’s enjoyment, Alexander said.

“My dad really enjoyed the train and even had striped conductor hats made for himself and all the grandchildren,” she added.

“We’re pretty lucky to live here.”