Museum Receives Restored Ottaway Steam Locomotive from Chance Rides

Donation is part of a legacy of Chance family’s history with miniature locomotives

The National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA) is honored to announce the donation and arrival of a rare, fully restored Ottaway Steam Locomotive and passenger cars from Chance Rides of Wichita, Kansas.  While this donation is not a roller coaster, its importance in the history of the industry expands a unique part of the NRCMA collection.

“We are beyond thrilled to be able to preserve such a unique part of amusement park history,” said Jeff Novotny, President of the NRCMA Board of Directors. “We look forward to preserving and maintaining this special piece of amusement park history for years to come.”

“My father got his start in the attractions industry helping to build Ottaway trains,” said Chance Rides CEO, Dick Chance. “To be able to restore and donate this piece of our family history and know it will be appreciated for generations to come, is truly special.”

Ottaway Locomotives were the spiritual predecessor to Chance’s popular C.P. Huntington miniature trains. While there are no current plans to run the train as an attraction at the museum, the locomotive will run “in place” thanks to a compressed air conversion, also completed by Dick Chance.

In the coming weeks, the museum will work on integrating this donation into its master plan, which includes interactive exhibits and historic ride vehicles.