The celebration was twofold: It was railroad's 35th anniversary and the 100th birthday of steam engine No. 2. The little engine was back on the line after 10 years. It had been out of commission while volunteers built a new boiler. During its absence a diesel engine was doing all the work, thrilling children young and old with rides through the park.

But on this day, after countless hours of time, effort and scrounging for donations, it was engine No. 2's turn to regain the spotlight. Its devoted volunteers had given the train new life; their work had given the engine a new heart. No. 2 proudly showed off by spraying and spewing steam straight out its smoke stack.

Chef engineer Bill Ulleseit, a soft-spoken man who appears to shy away from the limelight, was nothing but smiles.

"This is the high point of my life, getting the engine back together," he said.

For those dedicated volunteers, it was a thrill to see it smoking down the line after 10 years in the shed. Two cars were coupled to the engine and passengers rode around the one-mile track, waving to people along the way. The smiles were infectious.

And nowhere were the smiles wider than on Betty Ermert and Boots Peters, the daughters of William "Billy" Jones, a Southern Pacific engineer who saved the little engine from scrap.

It was a special occasion for the two women and Jones' grandson Robb Butterfield as they took a ride around the track.

I had the pleasure of sitting with them and Ermert told me about the time she worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad just like her father. Jones was hired at age 17. The railroad was his only employer and he retired as an engineer.

"I worked for the railroad also," Ermert said proudly as we rode around the park. "It was during the second World War. I was working at the Camp Roberts Depot. My Dad would come through around noon and toss me out a bag of peanuts."

"It was quite a sight," she added with a laugh.

Peters was also thrilled to be on the train. The gleam in her eyes told it all. She still lives on her father property, which was once a nine-acre prune orchard in Los Gatos along Daves Avenue and Winchester Boulevard. It was here that her father built the railroad and gave hundreds of children free rides.

This railroad is truly a gem for all of us. And fortunately there was a group of businesses owners and citizens who cared enough after Jones died in 1968 to preserve this rare piece of Americana.

The group established a nonprofit to bring the train from Jones' property to the park.

Jerry Kennedy, one of the original board members in 1968, said, "The group had to fight the water district, fish and game, the county and the city to make it happen. But eventually they succeeded."

Lucky for us they did, because I don't know anywhere else a person can get so much pleasure for a $1.50 and a loud whistle.

Moryt Milo is the editor of The Willow Glen Resident. She can be contacted at 400.200.1051 or mmilo@community-newspapers.com.