WORLDS OF FUN
RAILROAD

(1973 - PRESENT)

ELI or the Worlds Of Fun Railroad's engine is an american-style engine which originally began running in 1888 and was run on the main line until 1958 or eighty years. Worlds Of Fun's locomotive is a balloon stacked 4-4-0 american engine or the traditional locomotive for Burlington Northern for about one hundred years. The 4-4-0 engines were manufactured by Crown Metal Products. The tender and the engine just by themselves weight about 25 tons. ELI at Worlds Of Fun is not run on the traditional steam power but is run on LP gas for a cleaner ride for the passengers. ELI runs on 36" narrow gauge track that is over a mile long at Worlds Of Fun. It follows the original lay-out of the park. Carrying its capacity of 480 passengers it takes its riders on a guided tour of the park, with both new and old rides along the way. The ride usually lasts about ten minutes. At one time the Worlds Of Fun train used to be robbed at the Yumma Yucca Messa which is still barely standing. All 4-4-0 engines in existance owe their nickname "ELI" to its fast speed that it used to travel on its overnight rail service between Kansas City and Chicago prior to the turn of the century. Its speed on these trips were likened to a Chillicothe race horse named "Eli". The name has stuck to the train ever since and is present on the engine of Worlds Of Fun. The Worlds Of Fun railroad is sponsored by Burlington Northern who at one time ran ELI's or 4-4-0's on its main line for almost one hundred years. Hopefully, we will carry on this tradition at Worlds Of Fun for many years to come.

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