(The following story by Barbara Nordby appeared on the Star-Tribune website on April 26.)
CASPER, Wyo. — Casper area children can get on board a special vintage train this summer by being among the first to register for Boys and Girls Club summer programs.
The BNSF Railway Special will chug into Casper June 12 to take 330 children and adults on an afternoon train trip. The railroad will also donate $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Wyoming that will go toward scholarships and supplies.
Clubs in Gillette, Denver and Great Falls and Havre, Mont., will also have train trips in June.
“It’s going to be a tremendous opportunity for the kids,” said Ashley Bright, chief professional officer for the central Wyoming clubs. “Many of our kids have never been on a train.”
The BNSF offers the trips as a community outreach effort. They’re held in different areas of the country every year.
Children can get tickets when they register for summer programs. The clubs offer day camps, field trips, athletics and other summer programs. Clubs in Douglas and Glenrock will each get 40 tickets and the rest will go to Casper.
“We’re going to do first come, first serve for the kids in the summer so as parents are registering their kids for summer, we’re going to be talking to them about the train trip,” Bright said.
The train also has a special dining car with an additional 28 seats for special guests or donors.
Children who get tickets for the trip will also get matching t-shirts to wear on the day.
Bright said he hasn’t been told yet where the train’s destination is, but said children are already looking forward to the ride.