A nostalgic amusement train could one day return to its original role of shuttling visitors around Ontelaunee Park.

That's the hope of descendants of the man who made the New Tripoli recreational complex a legend.On Aug. 16, the Lynn Heidelberg Historical Society held a dedication ceremony for a new train depot, replica of the train station that once stood on the Berksy rail line in New Tripoli.The station was been built to house the amusement train that operated in Ontelaunee Park beginning in the 1930s when the park was the local gathering spot for family entertainment.Fittingly, the legendary park started out with a dream of capitalizing on scenic beauty, according to Susan Kistler, founder's granddaughter."On a beautiful Sunday morning in the spring of 1929, my grandfather Homer Nathan Snyder told his wife, Alice, and my mother, Marie, and her two brothers, Kermit and Lawrence, that he was taking them to a place where he was planning to build his own family park," said Kistler."They went to the park entrance on Route 143 and followed Ontelaunee Creek through briars, stickers, bushes, wetlands and woodlands to a place where he told them he planned to build a pavilion, a stage for entertainment, a big swimming pool, a bathhouse, shelters, a merry-go-round, refreshment stands, and a penny arcade building."The dream came true when the park opened on Labor Day weekend, 1929.EmploymentThe park was a boost for residents of the area because it offered employment opportunities."Everyone in New Tripoli was a part of the opening day - either attending or helping run the park. Over the years, practically all of the children in New Tripoli area worked at the park," Kistler said.As for the train, the Ontelaunee Express was purchased for $800 and added to the park in the 1930s. The train traveled on 1,500 feet of track, escorting visitors around the park, which became a popular family destination for the next several decades.In 1966, the park was sold to Dolly and Shorty Long of Reading. They owned the park until about 1983, selling to John Kospiah, who sold it five years later.The park helped to launch some top-name entertainers such as Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and Kenny Rogers. The park became a landmark.According to reports, Philadelphia TV cowgirl Sally Starr leased the property in the 1970s. She was a frequent visitor to the park.Sadly, all of it came to end in 1987, finishing with a December auction of contents.Train soldAccording to newspaper accounts, the train was sold to Norman Berger, operator of the Mahoning Valley Convalescent Home, Lehighton.For $5,000, Berger bought the train and track. But the train went up for sale once again at an Andreas auction 13 years later.This time, Carl Snyder, a founder of the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society, joined Kistler at the auction, intent on buying it and returning it to its rightful home."I stood next to Carl at the auction with the bidding auction card he had handed me so I could bid on the train," Kistler said."When we got to $10,000, I panicked, looked at him, and said, 'When do I quit bidding?' He said, in his Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, "Ya quit ven ya get it."They bought the works for $16,000 and hauled it home.Kistler credits members of the society's train committee for pushing the project along through their endless talent and enthusiasm."Members of that committee were some of the most dedicated people I have ever worked with. Starting with our chairman, Jim Warfel, and his wife, Mary Warfel, who kept our meeting notes … bless her heart!"Thanks to the restoration wizardry of volunteer Craig Weaver and others, two train cars have been restored and two others are being fixed."There were 20 different colors on it," said Weaver, describing the train as made of wood and cast-iron."We sandblasted the paint, there was lots of rust, and then we chemically stripped it. We had to put in new bushings and springs."There is still much work to be done; the engine sits in a nearby barn, waiting its turn for a loving makeover.Simpler timeThe train operated in a much simpler time, Kistler said. These were the days before lawyers, lawsuits, ambulances and liability insurance."Homer had no insurance," Kistler said.Still, Ontelaunee Park thrived because it was an ideal spot for all ages and all could afford an afternoon there. The cost of admission was 50 cents per car load. All rides cost 5 cents, as did the sodas and candy bars, and hot dogs and hamburgers were 10 cents. Steamed clams were a penny each, and that price included brown butter.The cost of the pool was 25 cents for kids and 50 cents for adults. The bathing suits that were kept and rented in the bathhouse were one-piece woolen suits for both men and women.Of course, the magic of those early, less complicated days can never return again.But there are high hopes for the train. When completed, it'll be showcased in the new depot building.The historical society would like to add 50 feet of track as a first step toward getting the train up and running.At Ontelaunee Park, everything old is new again.And with any kind of luck, the Ontelaunee Express will be back on the rails, giving today's youngsters a taste of a magical time in history.