The Editor,

Re: "Bear Creek Park Train won't be the same," the Now, June 21.

We are residents of Brampton, Ont. Our son, daughter-in-law and six-year-old grandson live in Surrey. Needless to say we visit often to see Joshua.

Our son emailed us your story about the Bear Creek Park Train and the recent demise of its owner, Dave Penn.

We love riding the train with our grandson when we are here for a visit.

The Bear Creek Train is magical for Joshua - and grandma and grandpa too. You know the phrase, "there is a kid in all of us?" This is oh so true.

Grandma and grandpa are transformed by just getting on board. What is always a real treat is an opportunity at the end of the ride - Dave would ask some of the children to pull the whistle cord.

Dave will be missed. The foresight he had in 1996 to begin this for all to enjoy, and the pleasure that in doing so brought to him and his wife, Linda should not be lost.

Your article said his wife would continue operating the train until their contract ran out at the end of the year. And that the City of Surrey did not want to purchase the Bear Creek Train.

What a great loss that would be for the community if the Bear Creek Park Train did not continue in Dave's memory.

Dave's wife asked that donations be given to Vancouver General Hospital in memory of Dave. What if some of these memorial donations went to keeping the Bear Creek Train operating in Dave Penn's memory?

We will be in Surrey again this summer July 6 to 15. To be sure, we will be riding the Bear Creek Train with Joshua.

I would like to see the community come together on this matter, and for the City of Surrey to be involved.

My deepest sympathy to Linda Penn and her family. Their loss of this wonderful husband and father is the greatest for them. Losing the Bear Creek Train would also be a great loss to the community.

Dorothy Hawthorne, Brampton, Ont.