The Little Prince is assembling a little army of helpers.
The vintage steam train that chugs around Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park was getting low on engineers, which meant smaller hours of service would be available through the warmer months.
The Exploration Place Museum + Science Centre, the keepers of the train, put out the call for people interested in becoming certified Little Prince engineers. The response was an unexpected success.
"We have had unprecedented interest in joining the museum's team of engineers at the Fort George Railway," said The Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros.
"The response was so overwhelming that rather than try to do this one on one, we are holding an information session for all interested parties at the museum on Thursday at 7 p.m."
Chief engineer John Calogheros will be on hand, along with our other engineers Frank VanDerLans and Nick Chapman.
They will help explain the training process. The learning is done on a volunteer basis, but once that is complete, the hours worked are paid. Engineers are tasked with driving the train, taking care of the workday needs of the train, and interacting with the thousands of people who ride the train around the park each year.
"The Little Prince is truly a Canadian treasure," said Calogheros. "As the only 24-inch narrow gauge steam engine operating in North America, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join us to learn about the railway, what is required to certify and ask any questions you may have. We will be conducting informal interviews that evening with an eye to setting up more formal interviews over the next two weeks. Please bring your availability for this spring and summer with you."
