How one of SMP-Independence’s employees children got a major restoration project going on a piece of Independence history-
Kellen Ebert, the 14-year-old son of David Ebert (one of SMP-Independence’s IT employees) helped to start up a major restoration project for Independence Riverside Park. At Riverside Park, a 122-year-old AT&SF 1050 Steam Locomotive sits on display for all to see and enjoy. It is even open for kids to climb on, so they can see inside. However, after many years of being climbed on, the train had started to lose its shine. Kellen noticed this and as a train lover, he started talking to people about getting a restoration project going. At this time, he was only 12 years old. In August of 2023, the park announced that the restoration project on the 1050 was starting! The project finished up in April of 2024, just in time for the Spring opening day of the park. So many Independence residents were thrilled with the results of the restoration project. As a thank you to Kellen, a man in Independence named Dave Alexander, who does wood working, made Kellen a model of the 1050 steam locomotive. The entire model was made by hand and was amazingly detailed.
David Ebert got to present the model train to his son Kellen, in front of the real train.
