Witchita, KS, USA — The Saint Louis Zoo is celebrating the 50th year of the Zooline Railroad. On April 27th, Larry Breitenstein, from Chance Rides was on hand for their celebration. At the event Larry presented the inaugural Harold Chance Award for Excellence in Train Operation to the St. Louis Zoo president, Dr. Jeffrey Bonner.
Harold Chance founded Chance Rides in 1961 and started producing the C.P. Huntington trains. In 1963, the Saint Louis Zoo purchased the 27th locomotive ever produced at Chance Rides. By the following year they had also purchased numbers 28 and 29 for the operation of their railroad. Fifty years later the Saint Louis Zoo is still operating Chance Rides, C.P. Huntington trains. And the trains are still built to the quality standards instilled in the company by Harold over 50 years ago. Chance Rides chose to honor the Saint Louis Zoo for their dedication to our quality products and the example they set for all other train operators in the market. Thus, the Harold Chance Award for Excellence was created.