After saving up public donations for several years, the Orange County Model Engineers finally raised the $21,000 they needed for a new miniature train engine, and families who turned out Saturday, Sept. 21, at Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park got a chance to ride behind it.

“This hasn’t happened for 10 years – it’s a really big deal,” Bob Harrison, the club’s vice president of operations, said of the engine purchase.

City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, left, and City Council members Allan Mansoor and Arlis Reynolds, help unveil the new locomotive at the Orange County Model Engineers train station at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. The engine, an EMD GP38, is the first one the all-volunteer club has bought in 10 years. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Model Engineers President Gary Gorman pilots the OCME 819 after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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City Council members and distinguished guests get the first public ride of the “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Model Engineers President Gary Gorman pilots the OCME 819, the club’s first new locomotive in 10 years, after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, left, and City Council members Allan Mansoor, Arlis Reynolds and John Stephens help unveil the new locomotive at the Orange County Model Engineers’ Goat Hill Junction train station at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. The engine, an EMD GP38, is the first one the all-volunteer club has bought in 10 years. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Avalon Monsoor, lower right, is all smiles as she poses for a photo with members of the Costa Mesa City Council, including her dad Allan Mansoor, in blue shirt, after the unveiling of the new locomotive at the Orange County Model Engineers train station at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. The engine, an EMD GP38, is the first one the all-volunteer club has bought in 10 years. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, sits on the track after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Model Engineers President Gary Gorman, left, talks with Mayor Katrina Foley after the unveiling of the new locomotive engine, the club’s first in 10 years, at the Goat Hill Junction station in Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

With Costa Mesa Golf Course as a backdrop, city council members and distinguished guests get the first public ride of the “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Train enthusiast Enzo Martin, 8, of Westminster, captures the Orange County Model Engineers’ new locomotive engine after its’ unveiling ceremony at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A conductor tests the whistle on his engine before the unveiling of a new locomotive engine, the Orange County Model Engineers’ first in 10 years, at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John Stephens, left, rides behind fellow City Council member Allan Mansoor and his family as they get a first-hand look at the new locomotive at the Orange County Model Engineers train station at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. The engine, an EMD GP38, is the first one the all-volunteer club has bought in 10 years. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

City Council members and distinguished guests wave as they take off on the first public ride of the “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A local television videographer gets a front angle on Costa Mesa City Council members and distinguished guests as they get the first public ride of the “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, after it’s unveiling at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Savanna Eastman, 5, Christopher Bramblett, 6, and Savanna’s twin Charlie, all of Huntington Beach, wait to ride the trains after the unveiling of the “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)



The “Costa Mesa Express,” the first new engine purchased by the Orange County Model Engineers in 10 years, at left, passes by another train at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019 (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

For more than 30 years, the model engineers have run the Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad, five miles of track that meander around the park’s eastern portion between Placentia Avenue and the Costa Mesa Golf Course. The 7 and 1/2-inch gauge course (the tracks lie 7.5 inches apart) can safely carry about six trains at a time, each pulling about six passenger cars at the breakneck speed of 5 mph.

The new engine, which weights about 1,000 pounds and boasts 16.5 horsepower, as well as the club’s roughly half a dozen others (the oldest engine still in service is from 1996) are one-eighth the size of an actual railroad engine, Harrison said.

A retired Boeing engineer, Harrison said he’s always liked trains and got hooked on the problem solving, technical tinkering and fun of riding model railroads, not to mention being able to share his passion with families and kids.

On public ride days (the third weekend of every month), “everybody’s excited,” Harrison said. “Bringing the joy to the various people, that’s the ultimate. It’s great to be able to do that.”