Benalto miniature railway fundraiser returns Sept. 12-13 for children's hospitals
A hand-built four-kilometre miniature train track near Benalto will again open to the public, with ride proceeds going to two Alberta children's hospital foundations.
Why it matters
The event supports children's hospital foundations serving families across Alberta while showcasing a decade-long community-built attraction near Benalto.
Ernie and Dorinda Beskowiney will open their property at 39014 Range Road 30 near Benalto on September 12 and 13 for the second annual Train Acres Miniature Railway fundraiser, benefiting the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation in Edmonton and the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation in Calgary.
Rides cost $15 each and take about 30 minutes to complete the full four-kilometre loop. Ernie Beskowiney built the rideable miniature trains himself using steel, aluminum and 3D-printed parts, with some models designed as exact replicas of real trains. The project began in 2015 and has involved more than 35,000 hours of work.
Beskowiney said he was motivated to support children's hospital foundations after his grandson received care at the Ottawa Children's Hospital; doctors had warned before the birth that the baby might not survive, but he was born healthy and grew into a healthy, intelligent child.
Last year's inaugural event raised about $22,000 over two days and provided roughly 1,500 rides. Organizers are expecting around 3,000 attendees this year and hope to raise more than last year. The event will include food trucks, free parking and washrooms, with tickets available online at trainacres.com.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.