The Watson Steam Train project has been given the go-ahead to begin construction. The twelve inch gauge Ottaway park train has been a fixture in Missouri Valley’s city park for five decades.

From 1950 until the early 1960s the train was owned and operated by the Missouri Valley Volunteer Fire Department. When the fire department decided to sell the train it was purchased by Fire Chief, John Watson.

Watson ran the 1948 vintage train until his death in 2002. The train stood idle for a year, com The Watson Steam Train Project has been given the go-ahead to start construction.

The little train came out one last time in 2003. During that run the engines boiler failed and it looked like the train had reached the end of the line. Channel Six was there for the last run and video of that day can be seen by going to the link on this story.

In 2006 Charlotte Watson, Johns widow, donated the train to the city with the understanding it would be restored and would again run in the park.

A committee was formed to restore the train and build a new depot to house it. When the word got out donations started coming in, eventually totaling more than a half million dollars.

A new boiler was fabricated for the engine. Watson’s son Randy then took on the task or restoring the locomotive and its cars to better than new condition and that part of the project is now complete.

On October 7 the final approval was given for a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation, clearing the way to begin letting bids for construction of the depot.

Construction could begin as soon as October 22 with a completion target of Memorial Day.