Grand Island, Neb. — After a combined 40 years of running the Stolley Park Train, Ken and Christy Scholl plan to pull the train into the station one last time on the weekend of July 5-7.
For Ken, who is the lead engineer and conductor of the train, he says the hobby turned into a lifelong passion for him 24 years ago.
Courtesy/City of Grand Island — Ken and Christy Scholl
“I always tell everybody once they get on the train to enjoy it,” he said. “You’re a young at heart person. Yell in the tunnel because the kids will, and I will. We just have a blast. They come off feeling very passionate about this train.”
While the passion certainly isn’t leaving, both Ken and Christy say it is time for their next chapter, which will be retiring and moving to South Dakota to be closer to family. As you can imagine, the decision has come with plenty of emotions.
“A lot of ups and downs,” Christy said. “We feel like we’re going on a roller coaster right now. I’ve been out here 16 years managing the Sweet Tooth and the Stolley Park Train. I’ve met so many nice people, worked with many nice people, and we’re going to miss it tremendously.”
Passengers of the train will get one last opportunity to say goodbye to the Scholls as they operate the train and Sweet Tooth at Stolley Park this weekend, and while emotions will certainly be running high, the Scholls say the tough decision is the right one.
“It’s time,” Ken said. “Me and old man arthritis have become best friends. I do not like him, and I’m not one for slowing down, but I got told I have to.”
