The City of Monroe, Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, and Zoological Society showed off a new train engine today at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. A train fundraiser has been ongoing to purchase a train, rebuild tracks and the train station.
The Monroe - West Monroe Convention and visitors bureau today presented a $150,000 grant to help with the cost on the engine and coaches.
The train engine was transported yesterday from Lufkin, Texas to Monroe. It is a 2004 24 gauge CP Huntington Locomotive gasoline powered locomotive. Zoological Society member Tom Pearson rode in on the new train engine. Two passenger coaches are on order and donations are being accepted for two more. One of the new coaches will be handicapped accessible.
The City of Monroe contributed $400,000 to the project to reinstall the train track around the zoo. The project is expected to be complete in July 2018.
