Presentation from Ron Zimmerman showing benefits of having an attraction in Waxhaw such as a miniature train.

1. OVERVIEW

2. RESULTS FROM THE ARRIVAL OF THE
Waxhaw Central Scenic Narrow Gauge Railroad
in
WAXHAW
A Grand Scale, 5/12 Scale, 15 Inch Track Gauge, Railroad
Experience an Adventure in Time Travel

3. People
• Kid and adults will love it, age or skill level isn’t a factor for full participation,
• Physically impaired persons can enjoy the same unique experience as others
• Families can enjoy without paying extravagant theme park admission fees
• Membership or coordination not necessary; not a sport or event
• Makes every rider a time traveler to another less rushed era
• Not a typical park train, which usually are poor replicas and ride around in circles
• Minimal travel time to the train compared to other adventures far out of the area
• Because of the distance to the train, people will save on gas expenses
• Riders can park without having to drive between the downtown and the museum
• People will tell their friends and relatives: the best type of town marketing
• Experience shows repeat interest in riding
• People specifically interested in trains will travel long distances to ride
• People will come to Waxhaw who had no reason to stop and visit before

4. Schools - Education
• Field trip “hub” adventure for kids to learn about past North Carolina history
• Teaches and reflects on the experience of transportation 60-100 years ago
• Tours for schools; learn about the workings of the trains, engines, roundhouse, etc.
• Because of the scale size, younger children will relate to it in a special way
• Boy Scouts can earn their railroad merit badge
• Can help with teaching about Operation Lifesaver
• A working illustration of engineering, science and technology of the 1900’s

5. Town of Waxhaw
• Will greatly increase local exposure by providing a unique attraction:
• Train can be the backbone of economic development
– It will draw visitors like no other entity in town today or currently proposed
• Provides town with unique entertainment draw like no other
• Waxhaw already draws people to see the train go by
• Adds a high-class grand scale miniature train ride adventure to the town’s appeal
• Helps maintain the park by ground leasing the right-of-way trail
• Operates yearly: a four season adventure (daily-summer, weekends-other)
• Creates added tourist travel to the area
• Promotes an easily accessible educational tool and field trip site for schools
• Have a train attraction, a “Grand Scale” train, without demands of full scale
• Town will have truly unique advertising opportunities..parade floats..displays+

6. Advertising Opportunities
Displays-Floats+

7. Economic Town Impact
• At ridership of 150,000 and everyone spent just $12: equates to $1.8 million
• Increase foot traffic (train ride plus a lunch, or museum ticket, or gift, or maybe all!)
• Bring school field trips to the town
• Increase customer base
• Increase the image of Waxhaw as a fun destination
• Increase merchant register revenue …ka-ching …..ka-ching………………..
• Increase city tax revenue based on increased merchant receipts………
• New park railway user fee paid directly to the town est. $45,000 +
• Park with a train will generate steady park income as % of revenhue
• Increase will help town preservation
• Increase will help façade program
• Increase will help park and tree preservation
• Increase will help Museum of the Waxhaws reach financial stability
• Help to decrease town merchant turnover
• Help to support more store front businesses on Main Street

8. ACTUAL RAILWAY RIDERSHIP
sample CURRENTLY OPERATING MINIATURE TRAINS
ANNUAL OPERATES DAILY LOCATION
650,000 Daily 1780 Milwaukee Zoo, WI
500,000 Daily 1370 Detroit Zoo, MI
300,000 Daily 822 McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, AZ
175,000 200 days 875 Pullen Park, Raleigh, NC
165,000 200 days 825 Redwood Valley Rwy., Bkly., CA
160,000 200 days 800 Train Town, Sonoma, CA
150,000 est. 200 days+ 750 Waxhaw Central Rwy
125,000 200 days 625 Billy Jones Railway, Vasona Lake, CA
 75,000 est. 200 days+ 375 WC. RWY START-UP
 75,000 125 days 600 Burke Lake Park, Fairfax, VA

9. Union County, NC
• Provides a unique attraction: will greatly increase county exposure
• Provides county with a unique entertainment vehicle
• Adds a high-class grand scale miniature train ride adventure to counties appeal
• Helps maintain the greenway by ground leasing the right-of-way trail
• Operates yearly: a four season adventure (daily-summer, weekends-other)
• Creates potential for added tourist travel to the area

10. State plus
• Worldwide appeal—trains are the world’s biggest hobby
• Will greatly increase exposure as a fun destination
• Will garner exposure in magazines with large circulations
• Will garner TV exposure as an item of community interest and adventure

11. Park
Other possible attractions reflecting compatibility with the train:
• Tree preserve and tree save
• Hiking trails, nature walks
• Horse trails
• Bike trails
• Lake (small-space permitting)
• Play structure
• Picnic grounds
• Garden-Flower
• Garden-Community
• Farm animals
• Miniature village or track side displays
• Historic buildings preservation

12. Wxw Park & Rec. Master Plan Pub.: Jan. 18, 2012
• Connect w/ Greenway & Trail pg. 20, 24, 31 (town wide green-way connects nodes)
David Barnes Park >>>..... >>>>>>
South Providence School Park
Museum of the Waxhaw’s < < < < << < < < < < <
This is exactly the route the train would travel to transport riders between
Downtown and the Museum of the Waxhaw’s and visa versa
• Central Park pg 23, 31, 34 (would include Barnes Park & S. Providence School
Highest priority implementation
• Joint use between Public and Private pg. 29 Funding strategies? Non- gov’t.? pg38
The railway will pay a user fee for rail trail usage based on gross income…..
If town owns the entire trail, all fees could go direct ly to the town
• Museum of the Waxhaw’s –Special-Use Park pg. 24, 32
Develop a farm
Similar rides have successfully incorporated farm and petting zoos
• Needs of and marketing to Non-Residents/Visitors pg. 32, 33
Train is projected to attract between 75,000-150,000 visitors maybe more!
• Work with proposed Waxhaw Central Railway to develop history pg. 32
Develop Tour explaining railroad technology and it’s presence in Waxhaw

13. Possible Park Activities
Farm Setting:
• Farmers Market
• Pumpkin Patch
• Hay Rides
• Pony Rides
• Farm Animals
• Horse Rides
• Christmas Tree Lot
Animals:
• Petting Zoo
• Zoo, non farm animals (previously proposed)
Lake: small (If feasible)
• Miniature Sail Boat Sailing Pond
• Duck Feeding Pond
• Fishing Pond/feeding

14. History and Waxhaw
• ANDREW JACKSON was the first as President of the United States to ride a train
• April 1, 1888, FIRST TRAIN ARRIVED IN WAXHAW FROM MONROE
• Working Illustration of economic impact trains have had since first arriving
• It once took Waxhaw farmers all day to take one wagon load of cotton to Monroe
• North Carolina Narrow Gauge Heritage: ET&WNCRR, Linville River, other lines
• North Carolina once had over 90 narrow gauge railroad lines
• The South, more than any other region, had many different track gauges
• Confederate Army was the first ever to use trains to transport soldiers in battle
• Arrival of southern troops by train altered the outcome of the 1st Manassas Battle
• Park engines: operating example of steam power, 1829-1960, 131 yrs.
• Transcontinental Railroad connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts in 1869
• Trains revolutionized travel: 6 days to San Francisco versus 6 months
• Railroads more than anything provided the means to expand the nation
• Railroads created the time zones by which we set our watches to this very day

15. NEEDED to achieve BENEFITS?
• A PARK from Downtown to the Museum of the Waxhaw’s!
• Incorporate the PARK into a Thread Trail GREENWAY
• Isn’t Waxhaw going to build a thread trail thru town anyway?
Example of a similar project with municipal support:
• Charlotte put up over $16 million+ to build the old time trolley line track
with the expectation they would re-coop the money after a long
extended period. It only took 4 years!

16. Why support this project?
• It will put smiles on everyone's face!
• It will create a legacy!
• It will make a difference!
• It will have staying power!
• It will be financially advantageous!
• It will be a wonderful accomplishment!
• It will be a key to Waxhaw prosperity!
• It will be something that will create memories!
• It will be something that will bring back memories!
• It will be something supporters can be proud of!
• It will be something meaningful!

17. For More Information . . .
Ron Zimmerman
704-843-9116
ronzimm@carolina.rr.com
ALL ABOARD
for FUN