OLD FAITHFUL, better known as Engine No. 2, hasn't been operating on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad since December, but passengers seem happy riding behind the diesel locomotive this summer.
"Ridership has been high," said John Lochner, president and board chairman of the little railroad that runs from Oak Meadow Park through Vasona Park and back to the Oak Meadow depot.
A new boiler for the steam engine is being fitted with a stainless-steel jacket by volunteers. Questions are often asked about when the engine will be running again. "I wish I had an answer, but it's impossible to put a time frame on it," Lochner said. "We hope it will be ready to be in the Christmas and Holiday Parade."
Meantime, enthusiastic riders keep lining up to board the train, especially on weekends, according to Executive Director Jerry Kennedy, who oversees daily operations.
The railroad measures its operating "year" from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31. In the first seven months, through May, there were 65,916 riders on the railroad and the Bill Mason Carousel, just 300 short of last year, despite the fact there haven't been as many operating days. That 65,916 figure breaks down to 31,447 paid riders on the train and 25,942 on the carousel, plus 8, 527 "courtesy rides" (mostly children 2 and under). The train had 27 days of operation, being closed from Dec. 1 to the last weekend in March for the installation of a new turntable and realignments of the track to the engine house. Other improvements included replacement of ties from 1970.
The carousel, too, has been busy this summer, with kids and adults waiting to mount the three rows of horses for a spin to a pulsing tune from the band box. The carousel was named for the late William E. Mason, Los Gatos electrical contractor, a force behind relocation of the railroad to Oak Meadow after the death of Southern Pacific engineer Billy Jones on Jan. 10, 1968. Jones had constructed the rail line at his Daves Avenue home.
Summer hours for both railroad and carousel are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical of hard-working volunteers are Randy Jones and John Tomlin, who worked on the new turntable and track-laying in the depot yard; Al Martin, who keeps the rail yard and carousel looking spruce; Bill Ulleseit and Henry Cranna; and there are more helpers. There are also paid employees supervised by managers Dyana Leland and Katie Middlebrook.
IN IRELAND celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, Jeff and Patti Lawton stopped by Los Gatos' sister city, Listowel. Back home, they sent us a photo of a sign welcoming travelers to Listowel. Several months ago, an item here said Los Gatos wasn't on the sign. Now we can report that it says Listowel is "twinned" with "Los Gatos, California," in addition to Shawnee, Kan.; Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland; and Panisierres, France. (Makes you want to drop in a pub and talk a little rebellion, as Barry Fitzgerald might say.)
THE NINE-member Mariachi Tapatio group entertained at Los Gatos Rotary Club as vocalist Patricia Rodriguez, daughter of Rotarian Julian Rodriguez, sang.
ARTS commissioners are happy over the success of this summer's Music in the Plaza series. Attendance has averaged around 400 to 500 people, with the July 4 program at Los Gatos High School drawing more than 1,500, according to Dale Chambers. Evidence of concert-goers' enjoyment is that some folks get up and dance with the music. "Response from major sponsors has been positive, with all of them wanting to sign up for next year," Chambers said. Jazz fusion guitarist Jim Witzel plays Aug. 11.
AT A Los Gatos Lions Club meeting, Lion Joe Zanardi treated fellow members to a steak lunch followed by a tour of his Green Valley Disposal Co. On hand were Green Valley employees Phil Couchee, Karen Rodriguez and Scott Morsey.
IT LOOKED like somebody hadn't checked the calendar when we saw the Fiesta de Artes, which Los Gatos Kiwanis Club sponsors for the first time this year, scheduled for Aug. 24-25, and the annual Town Picnic, a Lions Club endeavor, is likewise Aug. 25. But Kiwanian Rich Lang explains the Town Picnic date was set first and when the police department OKed the 24th and 25th for the Fiesta, the Kiwanians decided to leave it thus. "The picnic will be over fairly early, and we think the two events will blend together nicely," he said, adding that there was a similar scheme some years ago.
The Lions Club, by the way, wants Los Gatans to know that the Los Gatos Town Picnic (formerly designated Town Barbecue) is a summer's-end celebration for the entire community, not just Lions and guests. Lions Reed Graham and George Neukam are in charge of ticket sales.
IT SEEMS a good while till Christmas, but Sandra Farris of Monte Sereno, owner of California Interiors in downtown Los Gatos, has been named chairwoman of the 1996 Valle Monte League's Christmas Tree Elegance, to be held Dec. 3-6 at the Red Lion Hotel, San Jose. Pam Costello of Los Gatos is a co-chairwoman.
WOMEN'S AGLOW of Los Gatos is the local branch of an organization that brings women together for inspirational meetings. At its new meeting place, the Villa Felice Restaurant, Aug. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon, guest speaker is Pat Bigliardi of Face to Face Ministries, San Jose. Her articles have appeared in Christian Herald and Focus on the Family. Reservations were requested at 448-6619, or call Shirley at 973-1830. Breakfast is $11.
MEMBERS of the Los Gatos Museum board, led by President Pete Tiernan, and folks from the monthly poetry group gave Mary Foster a July 31 sendoff for a trip to a Washington, D.C., national poetry conference. Mildred Sprouse, who accompanied her, also got a rousing sendoff.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 7, 1996.
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