MINERSVILLE — Thomas Wagner has a special request for his birthday.
Instead of having a party, the 5-year-old from Minersville with a love of trains wants people to make donations to CNJ Locomotive 113.
Thomas, who celebrates his birthday Thursday, almost hit his goal of raising $500.
To raise the funds, Thomas sent letters to family and friends, and posted a request on Facebook, his dad, John Wagner, said.
“He’s very passionate about trains,” John Wagner said.
Wagner said his son came up with the idea when he was asked by his mother, Laura, what he wanted to do for a party.
Thomas said he often sees the train when he is riding in the car with his parents.
On June 3, Thomas got to take a ride on the locomotive with conductor Mike Smith and engineer Chris Bost. He wore a shirt with the locomotive on it, a blue and white hat and headphones to muffle the loud noise.
Thomas departed from the Minersville Train Station for a short ride down the rails. The boy didn’t have a lot of time, as he was going on vacation.
Thomas said he wants to be a train engineer when he grows up.
Robert Kimmel Jr., president of Railway Restoration Project 113, a Minersville-based nonprofit organization, said he was thankful for the Thomas’s generosity.
“That’s pretty amazing for a 5-year-old boy,” he said.
Both Kimmel and Wagner share a birthday. Kimmel will be 51.
Kimmel said the upkeep on CNJ Locomotive 113 is an ongoing issue.
“There’s always little things,” he said.
The steam engine dates back to 1923 when it was used to pull cars around in a rail yard by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Restoration on the locomotive started in 1999 and cost about $600,000, he said previously. Though his wish was granted, Wagner said his son will still get gifts for his birthday.