Railers to buy EcoTarium new train engine

Courtesy James Whitman, EcoTarium train engineer, Michael G. Myers, Worcester Railers HC president, Joseph P. Cox, EcoTarium president, and TRAX, Worcester Railers HC mascot.

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By Zachary Comeau

The Worcester Railers hockey team have donated $250,000 to the EcoTarium as part of a five-year partnership to enhance science-based learning, which will include a new train engine for the museum's Explorer Express, according to a Friday announcement.

The 55-acre EcoTarium will purchase the new train engine from Kansas manufacturer Chance Rides. The engine is a replica of an 1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive.

The EcoTarium on Worcester’s Harrington Way, offers guests a scenic 12-minute ride around the museum grounds. About 50,000 passengers ride the attraction each year, according to the organization.

The Railers benefit with advertising: the blue and gray colors of the hockey club now adorn the train station and train engineers are now outfitted in Railers apparel.

The Railers will also become sponsors of Great Pumpkin Nights, which the EcoTarium called the largest Halloween celebration for families in Massachusetts.

As part of the partnership, the Railers will become corporate members of the EcoTarium, allowing members of the club free admission during the month of September

Both organizations will also work together to cross-promote each other throughout the duration of the partnership.

The Railers, the East Coast Hockley League affiliate of the New York Islanders, came to Worcester as an expansion team. The club will begin play on Oct. 14.