TRAVERSE CITY -- It’s full steam ahead to save a community train! Hundreds of Traverse City residents are rallying to keep the tracks in place for the "Spirit of Traverse City" miniature train.

7&4’s Kate Fox takes a deeper look at their fight and the future of the beloved locomotive.

Traverse City Resident Tucker Bailey says, “It's a great treasure to Traverse City, I remember riding this train when I was 5 or 6 years old, every summer. I really hope kids from generations from on and on can get the same experience that I did."

It’s those sentimental memories that inspired Bailey to help create the "Save the Spirit of Traverse City” Facebook page.

Co-founder of the Facebook page Michelle Hazard says, "It brings in people from all over the world! Were seeing people from every country, every state on Facebook -- telling us they'll miss the train!"

The Facebook page is supported by almost 600 members and growing.  The goal is to keep this miniature steam train chugging' right a long in Clinch Park.

Hazard says, "The spirit of Traverse City is a money maker for the city, id like to see it stay. I found that in the budget this year that it’s expected to bring in revenue of $45,200."

Lauren Vaughn from Traverse City’s Parks and Recreation Department says revenue doesn't equal profit. At the end of the year, the department will have spent even more than that in operational expenses for the train.

And regardless, Vaughn says derailing the train has nothing to do with money. Rather it's about choreographing the new elements of the Bay Front Plan so it all fits.

Vaughn says, "That area is being redesigned to include a new restroom, concession facility, the tart trail will be relocated slightly, there will be a natural playscape and a splash pad."

Vaughn says city officials realize the communities’ attachment to the train and are talking about re-locating it.  He says, "One spot were looking at is the area, south of 11th street in the Grand Traverse Commons Property.”

Community members are prepared to ride it out till the very end, urging folks to join the Facebook page and the committee that they are starting to form.

The "Spirit of Traverse City" train will run through Labor Day and will take its final ride shortly after that.