
DATE: Tuesday, August 5, 1997               TAG: 9708060713

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KRYS STEFANSKY, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

RIDE ON POKEY SMOKEY CHUGGING THROUGH PARK IS FUN FOR SMALL PASSENGERS.

Choo, chooooo. All aboard the Pokey Smokey!

Chugging its way around a loopy track in the heart of Portsmouth City Park is a cute, quarter-scale coal-fired steam engine that pulls two cars. Rides are a dollar, no matter how tall or old you are, and the engineer follows no schedule. He just pulls away from the station whenever eager passengers show up.

And they do, every day all day that Pokey is smoking.

We found our way deep into Portsmouth and to the entrance of this beautiful old park, located right behind the picturesque Olive Branch Cemetery.

The park is fully wooded with graceful old trees. It features a Friendship Garden, established in 1963 to mark Portsmouth's association with its sister city in Dunedin, New Zealand. The landscaped garden has a brick paved formal garden that is a popular spot for weddings.

Three sides of Portsmuth City Park are bordered by the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River and Baines Creek. That means there is nearly always a lovely water view, whatever you have come to do. It has a golf course and pro shop, an outdoor stage right next door to the park's snack bar, tennis and volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and picnic shelters. It even has water access for boaters and personal watercraft and, of course, the Pokey Smokey - precisely why we had come.

We bought our tickets at the station window and were first in line for the next trip around the track. Actually, we were the only ones in line.

Nevertheless, the engineer, William C. Robertson, gave us the full treatment.

All abooooooaaaaard!, hollered this retired Navy man, who, it turns out, was a boiler tender and hull technician who left the service after 26 years. Good to know we were in the hands of an expert.

For the best view, he recommended the last seats in the first car or the first few seats in the second car.

Toooot, toooot, blew the train whistle, and, black smoke billowing out of the engine's stack, the thing hissed and off we went, chuga-chugging away from the station. The breezy, bumpy ride took us past a lake and the river, in view of golfers and plenty of ducks.

We had about five minutes to drink in the ambience, so we drank quickly. The little train has a Victorian flair, red faux-leather seats and wrought iron trim on the cars, which say Portsmouth City Railroad on the sides. The engine is an exact replica of the real thing, complete with brass bell and cowcatcher on the front. Or is it called calfcatcher on a train this size? We were stumped.

When we got back to the station, we climbed off and watched as the engineer stoked the red-hot blaze in the engine with fresh coals. He has a lot of regular riders, said Robertson, one of three engineers who run the train.

If the little passengers are well-behaved, there are treats to be had back at the station. For sale at the ticket window are Pokey Smokey T-Shirts, caps and post cards. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

JIM WALKER

Ken Wiley takes tickets from Bill Wright and Wright's sons, Jeremiah

and Josh, as Justin Garrett looks on.

Engineer Wiley prepares Pokey Smokey for a weekend run.

Graphic

IF YOU GO

What: Pokey Smokey steam engine

Where: Portsmouth City Park, 140 City Park Drive, Portsmouth

Hours: The train runs weekends and holidays only, from 11 a.m. to

5 p.m., April through October. The park is open daily, dawn to dusk.

Information: 465-2937

Cost: Rides are $1 per person