Engineer Michael Himmelstein of Valencia takes members of the Mars Historical Society for a ride Wednesday on the miniature railroad at the group's property on Brickyard Road. Passengers, front to back, are Ruby Watson, Mary Lou Swaney, Jill Swaney, Chris Clutter and Gunnar Watson.

MARS — Thanks to the hard work of Mars Historical Society members, visitors to the Mars Applefest on Oct. 5 can take a train ride.

The society on Wednesday held a “golden spike” ceremony at the historical society property on Brickyard Road, where members drove the final one-inch spike into the track for their miniature passenger train.

A small gas-powered engine will pull three open-air passenger cars along 700 feet of track. The track goes in an oval around the train station at the property.

Children, parents and others will straddle the plank seats on the cars as they chug along the 7½-inch wide track.

Historical society member Bill Swaney said the train can haul up to 10 passengers at a time.

Members worked feverishly since spring to complete the train in time for Applefest, which will be in downtown Mars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 5.

“It's been quite a feat for (historical society members,)” Swaney said of completing the project.

He said there will be no cost to ride the train at Applefest, but donations for the historical society will be accepted.