Kids, Adults Enjoy This Homemade Train

Kids, Adults Enjoy This Homemade Train AG WORLD Ag World 10-1-18 "It keeps us busy in retirement," says Mylo Preheim, builder and chief engineer of Engine No. 9 ù the Dakota Special, a homemade train that's become a top-notch attraction at parades, celebrations and nursing homes. It all started several years ago when Preheim, a retired businessman. in Parker, S. Dak., built a "cardboard locomotive" to enter in the town's Centennial Celebration parade. "I cut out cardboard to resemble a locomotive and hung the pieces on the sides of a garden tractor, then hitched a couple coaster wagons behind for kids to ride in. It proved so popular that I decided to build a bigger and better train for future parades and celebrations." Preheim's "bigger and better" Engine No. 9 is made of metal and measures 8 ft. high and 14 ft. long. With a coal car and two passenger cars hitched behind, the "go any-where" trackless train is 40 ft. long and hauls 12 adult passengers, or up to about 24 kids. The engine is built over a 3 cyl., 18 hp hydrostatic John Deere diesel garden tractor. "The real trick in building the locomotive was to figure out how to get the 14-ft. long engine mounted on the short, 6-ft. tractor," explains Preheim. He solved the "overhang" problem with a set of steerable support wheels mounted in front of the tractor. "I had to figure out a way to get them to steer faster than the tractor's regular front wheels and still be able to turn all four steer-able wheels with the tractor's regular steering wheel." Now that he's built one, Preheim says he'd be happy to custom build trains similar to his, or to serve as a consultant to do-it-yourselfers. The passenger cars each have two support wheels and are linked together by wide pivoting hitch plates which give the cars stability on curves and slopes. Canopies provide shade and rain protection for passengers. "Whenever we're invited to a small town for a parade, celebration or other event, we take the train to the local nursing home to give residents free rides. They love it," notes Preheim. He and his wife Dorothy have been in four different states with their popular train. For transport, they load the engine and two passenger cars into an enclosed van which hooks behind their pickup. They load the coal car into the bed of their pickup. Friends Mag and Babe Hansen usually accompany the Preheims on trips to help set up and operate the train, and to help with passenger tickets. "We discovered early on that, because of long lines and rambunctious kids, handing out tickets for rides is a must," Preheim told FARM SHOW. The train is equipped with a loud speaker for making announcements, and for playing (on tape) railroad music and whistle sounds. Seats in the passenger cars can be removed to make room for passengers in wheel-chairs. During the Christmas season, the Preheims and their train are invited to nearby towns and shopping malls to help Santa, with a trainful of toys, make his appearance. They charge a standard $175 fee, plus mileage, for a four-hour stint. "We charge just enough for parades and other events to cover meals, gas and other travel expenses for ourselves and our helpers, the Hansens. We're in this for fun and not the money," says Preheim. He confesses that he's having "the time of my life" entertaining kids of all ages with his popular Engine No. 9, the Dakota Special. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mylo and Dorothy Preheim, Box 512, Parker, So. Dak. 57053 (ph 605 297-4464).

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