The EcoTarium’s miniature train has long been one of the museum’s biggest draws, ferrying children and families around the sprawling Harrington Way campus. This weekend, the attraction gets a fresh coat of Worcester Railers flair—and a public celebration to match.
The EcoTarium and Worcester Railers Hockey Club holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning to officially unveil the Worcester Railers Explorer Express Train, part of a renewed partnership between the two family-focused organizations.
The event, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the EcoTarium’s train station area, includes train rides, hockey-themed activities, mascot appearances and the debut of a newly wrapped decommissioned steam engine designed as a climbable photo attraction for children and families.
The partnership itself is not entirely new. The EcoTarium and Railers first teamed up in 2017, shortly after the hockey club arrived in Worcester, branding the museum’s popular railroad attraction around the team’s mascot and identity. But officials say the latest relaunch expands the collaboration while introducing new features aimed at drawing visitors from across Central Massachusetts.
“The EcoTarium and the Worcester Railers have been partners on the Explorer Express Railroad since 2017 when the Railers first came to the city,” EcoTarium President and CEO Noreen Smith told the Worcester Guardian. “As the only recreational railroad in Worcester County, the EcoTarium’s Explorer Express was a natural fit with the team’s mascot and theme.”
Smith said the organizations share a similar audience of families and children while offering what she described as “exceptional entertainment experiences that are unique in the region.”
As part of the updated agreement, the EcoTarium renovated and rebranded an older steam engine display with Worcester Railers artwork and moved it to tracks near the station entrance, where visitors can climb aboard, ring the bell and take photos.
“We hear the bell ringing all day long from children enjoying the Railers’ Engine,” Smith said.
The relaunch also arrives on National Train Day, which EcoTarium officials called fitting timing for the celebration.
“This year, May 9 is National Train Day, which makes it the perfect time to celebrate this partnership with the Worcester Railers,” Chief Advancement Officer Deb Shear said.
The Explorer Express train itself continues operating daily through December, weather permitting, while the Railers-themed engine display will remain on-site year-round.
Saturday’s event will also feature appearances by Trax, the Railers mascot, while the EcoTarium’s education staff will continue participating in Railers games throughout the year with science demonstrations and educational programming at the DCU Center.
The EcoTarium has increasingly leaned into partnerships and large-scale exhibits as it looks to expand attendance and reach broader audiences beyond Worcester families with young children.
The museum recently celebrated its 200th anniversary and continues to host traveling exhibits, including “The Secret World of Elephants” and “Bloodsuckers,” with additional exhibitions scheduled later this year.
“We have experienced growth in membership and visitor numbers and expect that to continue,” Shear said. “Worcester may not be well-known, but is a tourist destination. We see visitors from all over the country.”
Officials also hope the Railers partnership helps expose more residents to both institutions.
“Worcester is a growing community, and many families either don’t know about the EcoTarium yet or they don’t know about the Worcester Railers,” Smith said. “It is great to be working together to get the word out about fun family activities in Worcester.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way. Train rides will be available throughout the day for an additional fee.
