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Council recognizes Orange County Model Engineers for 40 years of free rides in Fairview Park
Summary
Costa Mesa Mayor and council presented a proclamation on July 15 honoring the Orange County Model Engineers (OCME) for operating miniature trains in Fairview Park and providing free rides and community outreach for decades.
The Costa Mesa City Council presented a proclamation July 15 recognizing the Orange County Model Engineers for 40 years of volunteer-run miniature-train operations in Fairview Park.
Mayor John B. Stevens read the proclamation acknowledging the model engineers' history in the city and their record of public service. "OCME has been operating their iconic miniature trains in Fairview Park for 36 of their 40 years," the mayor said while presenting the proclamation. Mayor Stevens noted the club reported more than 615,000 free rides since 2002 and estimated tens of thousands of riders every year.
OCME president Josh Gessman accepted the proclamation and thanked the council and the community. He said the club's volunteers come from across the Western United States and that the organization operates and maintains more than five miles of miniature railroad track within the park. "What we do at Orange County Model Engineers is love trains," Gessman said. "We love interacting with the community and the opportunity that the city has given us over these 40 years is something that we couldn't repay."
The group invited council members and the public to a photo opportunity at the dais after the proclamation. Council members praised the volunteers and the club's role in community events, scout outings and family programs at Fairview Park.
