Posted May 24, 201114 yr All aboard at Akron Zoo Solar-powered train, renovated Farmland and new rain garden to greet visitors Saturday By Kathy Antoniotti Beacon Journal staff writer Published on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 Two of the Akron Zoo's most popular exhibits recently got face-lifts and turned green in the process. Renovations to Farmland and a newly constructed exhibit include several environmentally friendly aspects, among them a train that runs on solar power. Farmland is a farm animal feeding and petting exhibit and kid magnet that opened in 1979. It moved to its current location a decade ago. Today it has a new look thanks to a $486,500 renovation project in the 50-acre zoological park just west of downtown. An addition to the park, a bright red, solar-powered train named the A&K Wilber Express, could be a huge attraction when it opens Saturday. ''We believe it is the first solar-powered train in the country,'' said David Barnhardt, director of marketing and guest services at the zoo. Read more at: http://www.ohio.com/news/122488173.html
May 24, 201114 yr It's a miniature train -- an amusement ride, not transportation. It doesn't belong in here. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 24, 201114 yr LOL...that's an angry response to a friendly train! 'we don't like yer kind 'round here!'
May 24, 201114 yr Can you at least provide a few colorful exhibits that identify the potential routes through the zoo and preferred boarding locations based on the location of animal ‘hubs’ (Tiger Valley, Wild Prairie, etc.). It would be nice if you could include ridership projections comparing the old train with the new solar powered train, along with estimates of how many strollers would likely be removed from the walkways given the new transportation alternative. It might just be me, but I would be interested to find out how much of the savings related to emissions (or lack thereof) from the solar powered train will offset the greenhouse gases being produced from the various animals. Thanks.
May 24, 201114 yr :wtf: Geez..... doesn't anyone catch the real story here?..... the use of solar power to run a public conveyance. Even a seemingly small scale train can provide some insights into how altenate energy sources can be applied to it's larger rail-based counterparts.
May 24, 201114 yr At first I was going to write a snarky message about how Kasich was pulling the funding for all rail related zoo funding, but then I read the section that it doesn't ride on tracks. So it must have slipped under his radar. If only they could have made the 3C operate on wheels on I 71, it would have been a roaring success. Goofiness aside, the fact that you've got even a small scale form of transportation operating via sustainable energy was not lost on me. Hopefully they can use this as a test subject and come up with a way to operate it on a larger scale.
May 24, 201114 yr Eh.... Put some panels on a real train, then I'll get a pulse about it. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
Create an account or sign in to comment