Burke Lake Train

HomeLifeStyle Page 10 The C.P. Huntington rolled out of storage Classifieds, Page 14 Classifieds, on Twitter: @BurkeConnection on Follow Saturday, April 6, v thrilling riders with the whistle, the bell and nostalgia as the replica train chugged along on the rails at Burke Lake Park. Entertainment, Page 12 v Burke Lake Train: Opinion, Page 6 Tough and Nostalgic News, Page 3 Leadership Fairfax Hits a Home Run News, Page 8 ‘Super Seniors’ Still in the Game News, Page 5 Photo by Mike Salmon/The Connection by Mike Salmon/The Photo April 11-17, 2019 online at www.connectionnewspapers.com lost (adj): 1. unable to find the way. 2. not appreciated Your “Nicely Done” Kitchen or Bath is Right Around the Corner! or understood. 3. no longer A “One-Stop Shop” That Goes Above and Beyond Your Imagination owned or known Adopt Donate Volunteer Volunteers needed for adoption events, fostering, transportation, adoption center caretaking and more. Find us on Houzz, Facebook, & Angie’s List! Kings’s Park Shopping Center 8934 Burke Lake Road, Springfield VA 22151 703-764-3748 www.nicelydonekitchens.com lostdogandcatrescue.org 2 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ April 11-17, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic News 703-778-9414 or [email protected] Opening weekend for Burke Lake Park was a popular attraction. TThe caboose is a popular place to sit. Burke Lake Train: Tough and Nostalgic and I have enjoyed every position I have Although a train ride with the wedding The train is a big draw in the summer. had and all the great people I have worked party or a sports team would make great with through the years,” Ron Pearson said. pictures, the park does not rent it out dur- By Mike Salmon until after Labor Day when it goes back to “All of which would have not happened if ing regular park hours for that. If a group The Connection weekends only. In the late fall, it’s parked my dad had not gotten me a job at the train would like that kind of thing, it has to be back in the tunnel. The current C.P. Hun- when I was in high school.” off hours and arranged through the park he C.P. Huntington rolled out of tington is number 343, which is the second office. “We try and make accommodations storage on Saturday, April 6, train owned by the park. Train number 62 EACH SEASON, the park employes four for special groups,” he said. There is a spe- Tthrilling riders with the whistle, was the original, and it’s still at the park, different drivers, and the park encourages cial car for wheelchairs and they can hook the bell and nostalgia as the rep- but is only used for a promotional set up. they take on the role of the conductor, but it up to the train quickly. The income from lica train chugged along on the rails at Fairfax Station resident Bill Koch was a there is no uniform supplied, although most the train is a big part of the park’s budget. Burke Lake Park. The train is 1/3 scale of a driver for years until he died recently. “He have gotten hats and a pair of overalls to full-size train, and a mainstay for park pa- loved this train,” O’Connor said. His son Ron use. “It’s up to them,” O’Connor said. The trons. Pearson still works there and his duties in- tracks, switches and signals are real and C.P. Huntington Park manager Keith O’Connor has wit- clude maintenance to the train and tracks require real attention, just like on the full- The C.P. Huntington was named after nessed several generations of families at when needed. His father’s train experience sized railroads out there. “This is all real Collis Potter Huntington, a railroad pioneer Burke Lake Park riding the train, and the started with the prison train when Lorton train stuff,” O’Connor said, pointing to a that was big in the early railroads, especially word has spread around because not every Reformatory was still operating, and he switch near the tunnel. “Kids love the tun- out west. The C. P. Huntington train is a 4- park has a train. “People know about our brought that knowledge and love of trains nel,” he said. 2-4T steam locomotive on static display at train,” he said. to Burke Lake, and his love of trains spread Photos by Mike Salmon/The Connection the California State Railroad Museum to his son Ron who started working at Burke in Sacramento, Calif. The replica train THE TRAIN runs on the weekends only Lake while attending Robinson High School. was the first product of Chase Manu- until Memorial Day, and then it’s every day “The Park Authority is a big part of my life facturing in 1961, that now builds car- nival rides and roller coasters too at their 310,000 sq. ft. factory in Wichita, Kan. “It’s a replica of 1800s western train,” said Larry Breitenstein, the National Sales Director at Chance Rides, Inc. , and they’re operated all over the country, including the St. Louis Zoo which has four trains. They are sturdy and don’t wear out easily, said Breitenstein. “We have trains operating out there from the ‘60s and ‘70s,” he said. One was used in a Claritin allergy medicine commercial at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and Michael Jackson had one running in Neverland Ranch, also in California. Around Burke Lake, if it’s during the warmer months, the train must go on, said O’Connor, “they’re tough.” If it’s down, “people get upset,” he said, and mechanics are called in all hours of the night to fix it. “The train has to go,” he said. O’Connor once took all the In the 1800’s, C.P. Huntington was a figure in the country’s The track switches are authentic at wooden benches to his father’s house railroad industry. Burke Lake Park. and refinished them. www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Burke Connection ❖ April 11-17, 2019 ❖ 3 News Presenting the Resolution honoring the Fairfax Library Foundation on 25 years are Del. David Bulova (center); Lisa Bryant Execu- tive Director, Fairfax Library Foundation; and Patricia Reed, Board Chair, Fairfax Library Foundation. Photos by Steve Hibbard/The Connection Art students in Nancy Jung’s art classes in Fairfax had their paintings auctioned off. A Step Back in Time 25th Anniversary Jubilee for Fairfax Library Foundation. By Steve Hibbard According to Lisa Bryant, Executive Di- The Connection rector, Fairfax Library Foundation: “The Jubilee helps raise funds for the Fairfax bout 250 library VIPs and sup County Public Library. It goes towards the porters attended the 25th Anni early literacy program, Ready to Read. And Aversary Jubilee, a fundraiser for in that we ensure that 1,000 kids or more the Fairfax Library Foundation receive picture books and increase their called “A Step Back in Time” on Saturday, April reading abilities. We also support scholar 6, 2019, at the newly renovated Tysons- Pimmit Regional Library in Falls Church. See Jubilee, Page 13 The Jubilee guests peruse the silent auction. 4 ❖ Burke Connection ❖ April 11-17, 2019 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News ‘Super Seniors’ Enjoy Softball, Camaraderie Because softball involves throwing, catch- ‘Super seniors’ head out to softball fields across the county for ing, bending and running, it’s really a whole-body workout, covering the four key a dose of the best anti-aging remedy around. types of exercise recommended by health professionals: balance, flexibility, strength By Karen Nappi and endurance. Since not every senior is in the same ave you ever dreamt of find shape, NVSS divides players into three ing a magic potion to slow leagues based on an initial assessment. That Hdown the aging process? way, players are grouped with others of Well, there are more than 80 similar ability, regardless of age. “We all seniors who are 80+ years old in Fairfax have issues — none of us can run as fast or County that seem to have done just that. throw as hard as we used to,” says Jesse But for them, the potion doesn’t come in a Christian, an 85-year-old outfielder from bottle. Instead, it comes from a diamond Arlington. “But we love being active — — a softball diamond. that’s the main thing.” That sentiment is echoed by George and TWICE A WEEK from April to November, Beth Hersey, 81 and 83 respectively. The many of these “super seniors” head out to couple, who live in Great Falls, rarely miss softball fields across the county for a dose a game. “Playing softball keeps you young,” of the best anti-aging remedy around. The says George. 81 men and women are members of the Beth Hersey, who has managed an NVSS Northern Virginia Senior Softball (NVSS) team for the last 20 years, said, “I don’t think league, a 500-member, all-volunteer orga- we have had anything more serious than a nization that has been around since 1980 strain or sprain in all the years we’ve been and whose goal is to promote good health, playing. We know that every Tuesday and sportsmanship, fellowship and fun. NVSS Jesse Christian, 85, smacks a deep fly ball during an NVSS game. Thursday morning, Spring ‘til Fall, we’ll be players range in age from 40 (women) or outside with friends, playing and having a 50 (men) to 94, but it’s the super seniors great time.” The Herseys don’t stop playing who seem to really benefit.

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