Conductors have 'best job in th world'

Local News

Related Photos

Frankie Schmitz Express train conductors Bill Stalik, left, and Albert Farr take a break between trips. Staff photo by Cathy Mounce

Guest Book

March 18, 2013

Conductors have 'best job in th world'

By CATHY MOUNCE, Register Staff Writer The Daily Register Mon Mar 18, 2013, 10:09 AM CDT

Gainesville — On a busy day, the Frankie Schmitz Express train takes hundreds of smiling children and adults on a round trip through Gainesville’s Leonard Park.

The train is a popular draw for residents and visitors.

During the first week of the train’s 2013 season, more than 4,000 passengers rode the Express, Gainesville Parks and Recreation Director Patrick McCage said.

The Express was purchased by the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation and donated to the city of Gainesville in 1999. It made its inaugural Leonard Park run in July 2000.

The miniature train is a replica of an 1843 wood burning locomotive and was constructed in San Marcos in 1971. It operated in Wimberly prior to coming to Gainesville.

Conductors Bill Stalik and Albert Farr say they love their jobs.

Farr is veteran conductor who has operated the Express since the train opened in Gainesville.

Newcomer Stalik has been driving the train for a week but said he’s excited to be part of one of the park’s most popular attractions.

“It must be the best job ever,” Stalik said.

Farr agreed.

“Where else can you drive a locomotive and (get to see) the excitement on the kid’s faces,” he said. “Plus you get to wear overalls. What could be better?”

The Frankie Schmitz Express spring hours of operation are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The times listed represent the first and last train rides of the day.

Tickets are $2 per person and the train leaves on the hour and half hour.

Text Only

Local News

VFW plans Memorial Day ceremony
This year’s Memorial Day ceremony is set to combine rigorous tribute and storytelling with a notable twist.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Valley View officials sworn in
Valley View city officials were sworn in during a recent city council meeting.

May 17, 2013 3 Photos
The Big One: Preparing for mid-America earthquake
Part 5 of a five-part series

It’s a bleak scenario. A massive earthquake along the New Madrid fault kills or injures 60,000 people in Tennessee. A quarter of a million people are homeless. The Memphis airport – the country’s biggest air terminal for packages – goes off-line. Major oil and gas pipelines across Tennessee rupture, causing shortages in the Northeast. In Missouri, another 15,000 people are hurt or dead. Cities and towns throughout the central U.S. lose power and water for months. Losses stack up to hundreds of billions of dollars.

May 18, 2013 3 Photos
National Transportation Safety Board considers lowering blood alcohol levels for drivers
Members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have announced new recommendations in their continued quest to end drunk driving.
During the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, alcohol is a common theme in many celebratory activities throughout the nation and state, and, therefore, many Texans unnecessarily die in vehicular accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers.
This past week, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials announced several new recommendations relating to drunk driving, including lowering the national blood alcohol content (BAC) standard from .08 to .05.

May 18, 2013
Fire support and rehab team donates to Callisburg VFD
Cooke County Fire Support and Rehab Team recently purchased some items for Callisburg Volunteer Fire Department.

May 18, 2013 1 Photo
Gainesville Rotary club unfurls flag program
Members of the Gainesville Rotary Club are currently preparing the organization’s annual flag program which delivers and displays large American flags throughout the community and surrounding area.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Local damage minimal after stormy night
Wednesday storms brought negligible issues to Cooke County, with more dire effects experienced to the south.

May 17, 2013
Guest's memoir a hit at book signing
A magical summer in Gainesville in 1935 is recalled in Betty Bradley Junkin Guest’s book “Once Upon a Falling Star.”

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
Muenster bankers meet with delegation
More than 100 members of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), along with local Muenster bankers, met in Washington D.C. with the Texas Congressional delegation, various regulatory agencies and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in April to discuss pressing legislative issues with national and statewide impact.

May 17, 2013 1 Photo
United Way begins 'Caring' project
The gauntlet has been thrown to area groups, churches and local business in a friendly competition to be held May 30 to assist the Cooke County United Way (CCUW) as part of the organization’s second “Community Caring” event in 2013.

May 16, 2013 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

What are your plans for this summer's travel season?