For more than a decade, the Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad organization has attempted to expand and enhance the railroad, and after many years of effort and commitment, the city permit was secured, and construction began in February.
Early designs had been rejected due to archaeology survey results. In 2022, a public petition signed by more than 800 people who wanted to expand the attraction spurred another, more complex expansion plan, which included crossing the Line Creek stream onto a lot owned by the Parks Department.
“This time, an archaeology survey was free of any ‘finds’, Bob Unger, KCNRR member and Expansion Project Manager said. “The first concept plan was presented to Parks Management in December, 2022. The complexity and cost of the expansion ($1.4 million) required two years of planning, special permitting and fundraising.”
Today almost all of the funding has been secured except for the last $40,000 of funds needed.
Unger said the expansion will include many new and exciting features, including a lazy-8 woodland route, two bridge stream crossings, a picnic grove and a new miniature steam engine. Also, the track, which is about a half mile in length will be doubled.
The miniature railroad organization was established as a 501c3 non-profit in 1986. The first public ride was in 1992.
The first train was donated by the Kansas City Zoo in 1986. “It was ‘in the weeds’ and required total restoration by the club before it could be used,” Unger said. The second train came from New York, in a similar condition, and the third train came from Pennsylvania.
The organization’s history included many communities that objected to the miniature train rides being based in certain locations.
“Finally, KC Parks and Rec offered Frank Vaydik Park as a location and entered into a Parks and Rec Partner relationship,” Unger said.
Presently, more than 62,000 children and adults ride the train each six-month season. That number is expected to rise to 100,000 per season after the expansion opening in late 2025.
The railroad is open every weekend and holiday from May 1 to Oct. 31. There are special trains for Easter (Sat., April 19, 11 a.m. To 4 p.m.), Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
“We offer charter rides throughout the weekdays and traditionally do 60-plus special group charters per season,” Unger said.
The miniature version of a real-scale train, KCNRR is a good way for kids to learn about different types of signals. The train route includes signals acquired over the decades from the railroad industry.
“There are vehicle crossing signals that light and flash when the train approaches a vehicle crossing, and a simaphore which is a large arm with lights that moves from a green to yellow to red light as the train makes its rounds,” Unger said. “A wig-wag is a pedestrian crossing warning signal. Our use of the train’s horn and bell duplicates that of real-scale trains.”
Many of KCNRR volunteers are retired railroad employees, who provide children and adults with important information about the operation of trains, while emphasizing safety around trains with the railroad-industry approved child safety program “Operation Lifesaver”.
Operation Lifesaver is a nonprofit organization that works to prevent collisions and deaths at railroad crossings and on train tracks.
Kids enjoy the sounds and realism of the train rides, plus the three different color trains that are rotated every weekend. The outdoor nature of the attraction is also appreciated by the kids and their families.
“They enjoy the railroad merch. that we sell,” Unger said. “Families enjoy our low fare ($1/ride or less for multi-ride cards). Special-needs children especially enjoy the outdoor, open and docile nature of the ride.”
Since the railroad is a non-profit, donations have been vital to the expansion. “In November 2024, a KC philanthropist, Frank Thompson, pledged a $125,000 Challenge Grant,” Unger said. “The contingency was that we raise a matching $125,000 by June 30. We have $40,000 to make the Challenge.”
Most of the new railroad track construction will be completed by June. The picnic grove and new steam engine will be coming later. “We hope to achieve city and state inspection approval to open to the public before our Halloween train,” Unger said.
After the upcoming Easter event, special events will include: Opening Day on May 3, Truck ‘n Train Day will be May 17, Cranky Cars Day in June, Super Train Day (three different scale trains) in July, O-Scale train display in August, Army Trucks ‘n Trains Day in September, Halloween Train, Oct 25, Thanksgiving Train, Nov. 22, and Christmas Train, Dec. 13. Other new events will be announced on KCNRR’s Facebook and website.
About 45 people volunteer at the miniature railroad, and all of them enjoy trains and giving back to the community.
Unger has been volunteering at Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad for three years. While he does have model trains, his real attraction in volunteering to work at KCNRR was the opportunity to serve his community’s families and children, and providing them with an exciting adventure.
“Trains have a nostalgic appeal to many of us and many of our riders,” Unger said.
His favorite experiences in his volunteer work with the miniature railroad have been learning new train and track maintenance skills. camaraderie, providing entertainment for the public and children, and above all, public service.
For anyone interested in supporting and donating to the expansion can do so in-person at the train station, KCNRR’s Go Fund Me, or mailing donations to PO Box 11095, Kansas City, MO 64119.