Retiree Bill Valiquette rides the rails at Bonfante Gardens
Gilroy – “All aboard” is the shout that comes from the back of the train before William Valiquette pulls out of the station, heading towards his passengers destination – Coyote Station.
This train is circling its way around a local amusement park and Valiquette is not your ordinary ride attendant.
Amusement park jobs are a hot ticket for high school and college kids looking for summer-time work, but local Bonfante Gardens had an out of the ordinary applicant to run one of their rides this season.
Valiquette, known to friends and family as Bill, is a grandfather of three who spends plenty of time outdoors. He takes care of his large backyard pool and does all his own yard work in the Gilroy home he shares with his wife of nearly 50 years, Sue. But he hoped taking a summer job at Bonfante Gardens would give him a chance to get out of the house and have some fun.
Unlike the high school kids looking for some extra spending money, Valiquette didn’t apply to be a train conductor at the family park for the cash. He has been retired for years, but the 74-year-old thought the job would be a great way to stay active.
“I’ve always gotten a kick about seeing those guys drive the trains around,” said Valiquette of amusement park conductors. “And I am a big enough kid, I thought I’d like it.”
He’s been riding the rails from the Coyote and Redwood Railroad stations at the amusement park for three weeks and is loving every minute of it. The train track follows the perimeter of the park and gives Valiquette plenty of opportunities to wave to visitors and toot his horn as his engine passes by. Young guests and parents always wave back at the driver, who dresses in blue-and-white-striped denim overalls with a matching conductor’s hat.
The veteran train conductors are giving the retiree plenty of tips.
“All those other guys have been there a long time and they are good about helping me, the older guys,” said Valiquette of the conductors, some of who are younger than him, but have worked at the park longer. Valiquette and his co-workers take turns driving the train and riding in the back. They also spend some time working on the platform, ushering people onto the ride and making sure passengers are seated properly.
Valiquette’s favorite part of the job is chatting with riders when it is his turn to drive the locomotive.
While other passengers are taking a seat further down the train, he has a chance to chat with those sitting in the front row.
“Next stop Bakersfield,” Valiquette jokes to the front seat passengers.
“I enjoy talking to the people when they get on the train and what not,” he said. “I get a kick out of the people.”
Valiquette also appreciates the time his summer job allows him to spend outdoors.
“It’s a happy place to work. It’s outside,” he said. “I’ll tell you, it’s a joy to sit in that train and drive around that park.”
The circle around the park includes views of the other rides and plenty of plant life. The park is known for its gardens and the train journey includes a ride through a greenhouse, passed waterfalls and through a tunnel. Riding the same track, by the same scenes over and over doesn’t bore Valiquette.
“It’s beautiful. Every time I see something different,” Valiquette said. “It’s an unbelievable park and I wish more people would [come] to it.”
