After chugging for more than 870,000 miles during 44 years of service, then standing up to harsh winters and scorching summers for more than a half century, a retired train locomotive near downtown Lawrence will get a little freshening up Saturday.

The old No. 1073 prairie locomotive, parked in Buford M. Watson Jr. Park since the 1950s, will have its black surfaces repainted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday by about a dozen members of Lawrence Breakfast Optimists.

Using black paint provided by Lawrence Parks and Recreation, volunteers will restore the massive engine’s original look, said Roger Steinbrock, a department spokesman. The “1073” and other details will be taped off, reserved for fresh white paint later.

“The last time the locomotive had been painted was about 10 years ago,” he said. “It’s just like a house. You want to repaint it every once in a while, so the luster is still there.”