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Little Train – Big Difference
The new John Deere engine in 'Le Petit Train' at the Parc Floral in Orléans, France, benefits the community and the environment.
(August 22, 2006) – The visitors' train at the Parc Floral in Orleans, France, is now the little engine that could, powered by a quieter and cleaner John Deere engine.
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| Retrofitting this little train at the Parc Floral with a John Deere
engine took a multi-division effort. |
The Parc Floral in Orléans wanted to upgrade the engine of the little
train that takes visitors on a three-kilometer tour around the site. The Parc
is one of France's ten most-visited parks, attracting around 145,000 visitors
every year. However, the existing air-cooled engine was no longer in tune with
the park's reputation for clean air and tranquility. The Parc asked John Deere
distributor Equip' Jardin for assistance.
"Our distributor Equip' Jardin has long been involved in the Parc's floral activities, so they turned to us. We were delighted to help," said Jacques Febvre, John Deere Director Engine Marketing & Sales for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. With the aid of a grant from the European John Deere Goodwill Fund, the marketing division in Ormes allocated the funds, John Deere Usine Saran donated a 60-kilowatt 4045T engine, and Equip' Jardin handled the installation.
The result is a new locomotive that's better for Parc visitors and the environment. "The new engine's far quieter," said Febvre, "and it produces 75 percent less pollution – important for a park with such a strong "green" philosophy."
The little train first showed off its new engine in April. At that time, the Parc invited 400 members of the John Deere Society (employees and their families) to come for a ride.
"As an off-highway engine manufacturer, we don't usually provide engines for trains," said Febvre. "Nonetheless, improving the environment and supporting local communities are important to John Deere. This was a small way we could do both."
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