Work is underway to keep a Whitehorse summer tradition on track for another year.

It will likely be another month, however, before the trolley makes its way along the tracks that run near the Yukon River downtown.

Patricia Cunning, the MacBride Museum’s executive director, said this morning a local mechanic has been hired and has started work for the museum to ensure the trolley is running well.

It was announced in March that the Miles Canyon Historic Railway Society, which has operated the waterfront trolley downtown along with Copperbelt Mining Museum off the Alaska Highway, would merge with the museum.

As the work of merging operations has continued, MacBride just recently learned that territorial funding came through for repairs to the trolley and generator, and only today found out it would receive money for work to the tracks.

“There is track work that is required,” Cunning said.

The railway society already had the plans in place for repairs to parts of the track between the Kanoe People and Rotary Peace Park.

That means there will likely be a period at the beginning of the trolley’s season when it’s only making partial runs to accommodate work on the tracks.

It’s unknown exactly how long work on the tracks will take.

“We’re just starting,” Cunning said of the work on the tracks.

Meanwhile, work on the trolley and the trolley’s generator is underway. It’s anticipated rides will begin July 1, though Cunning emphasized the trolley could make its way to the tracks earlier if the work wraps up ahead of schedule.

In the meantime, those hoping to still ride the rails could head up to the Copperbelt Mining Museum after it opens June 1.

The museum’s Loki ride will be ready to roll with a summer schedule that will see the Loki wind its way through the museum property Wednesday to Sunday through the season. It will also be available by appointment on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Also, as part of the two museums’ merger, 10 weeks of summer camps focused on a variety of themes will be offered at the Copperbelt Mining Museum beginning June 21. Registration is available through Mac-Bride’s website.

In the meantime, construction on the MacBride site is continuing as the Front Street museum undergoes a major two-year expansion project.