San Mateo to replace Central Park Mini Train

“The former contractor who owned the train, understandably, decided not to continue his niche concessionaire businesses,” Magrini said. “We know the community loves the ride, so we’re working on a request for proposals to bring a new train to the park.”

A request for a proposal for a new train and operator is expected to be issued in the next month before the city makes a selection. The replacement train is estimated to cost around $10,000 to $20,000.

The train had been closed for repairs for a couple of months as the operator looked for upgraded parts from specialists not readily available. During the closure, the city has been running an off-leash dog trial program in the area with plans to see if it could coexist with the train.

In the past, the train typically ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. year-round on weekends and on some weekdays during summer months. The train began operating in 1948 as a 14-passenger miniature coal-burning replica of Southern Pacific’s “Daylight in the Midwest” purchased for $10,000 and was shipped by truck to San Mateo. It originally cost 9 cents a ride and ran daily during the summer and on weekends in the winter. In 1953, it was converted to a diesel-burning engine and was converted to battery power in 1977 by Bob Bianchi, who died in 2019. It last cost $2 per ride and snow cones could have also been purchased for the same amount. The city owns the tracks and space in the park it leases to an operator.