Mayor Peter Brown signs new lease documents with President of Iron Horse Park, Alan Pile.
(PHOTO - Marty Lawrence)

May 8, Mayor Peter Brown spent part of a sunny spring afternoon at one of the city's most popular attractions, Iron Horse Park.

Brown was on hand to enthusiastically sign a new lease, giving Iron Horse Park a long-term commitment to continue its development and summertime train tours in Airdrie.

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The Mayor and Alan Pile welcome residents to board the mini-trains for another season at Iron Horse Park! (PHOTO - Marty Lawrence)

Platform Manager Patricia Pile was beyond excited about the extension of their contract with the City.

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The new lease will keep the Park trains running until 2027.

After 14 years, the volunteers who run the railway park are excited to have another busy year. “Depending on how busy we get, we have three main trains to pull our passengers. Come ride your favourite one,” coaxes President Alan Pile.  

Iron Horse Park is operated by the Alberta Model Engineering Society which has about 75 members of all ages, passionate about sharing their love of trains with the public. The train journey is unique as the ride takes you on a trip from Calgary, up and down the Rocky Mountains, to Vancouver and back! The landscape changes make the trek fun and engaging with bridges, tunnels and an authentic prairie panorama. The track is around 1.6 km long and the ride lasts about 15 minutes.

Besides the ride, you can take a stroll around the Park or have a picnic and enjoy the gardens and landscape.  

Iron Horse Park has a newly renovated clubhouse perfect for a birthday party or event. “If you are interested in booking your child’s birthday party, we are happy to help. Spaces and times are booking up fast so contact us right away,” suggests Pile.

If you or your family would like to learn to drive trains, help manage the landscape, work the platform to load and unload passengers, or run the store front selling train tickets - they have a job waiting for you.

Iron Horse Park will be open for the season on May 19 from 11 am until 4 pm and all Sundays that follow until the Thanksgiving long weekend, and is also open Canada Day.  

Check their website for more information or call (403) 948-2601. The Park is located at 820 Railway Gate just east of 8 Street.