PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Preservationists, businesses, and members of the public have stepped up to offer material support and more than $23,000 to save Louisiana & Arkansas No. 503, a Baldwin 4-6-0 at risk of being scrapped. The displayed en…
Lost steam locomotives are like lost puppies in the snow, no-one wants to see them die.
The thing about these 10 Wheelers is that they are just the right size for a frequent excursion operation.
This one is an oil burner with 36,827 lbs tractive effort.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47162644@N07/5916827714/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47162644@N07/5916828496/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47162644@N07/5916829062/in/photostream/
EDIT: I take back most of what I initially said. Part of the initial enthusiasm and recognition that went into the ‘viral’ campaign came about from the initial Newswire story back around the 17th. And it was not so much the RyPN community but certain members of it who organized the campaign, developed the alternatives, put the initial funding in place, and gotten through both to the recalcitrant and elusive city people and the wannabe scrappers. (I don’t know if there was the groundswell of enthusiasm to make small donations here that there was on RyPN … and now that things are so close, I encourage anyone reading this thread to make a donation of any size. (Note that almost all of the money so far raised has been given in $50 or lower increments!)
As I post this they are up to $34,600. Looks promising.
Good to know there are still some rail preservationists out there capable of pulling something like this off on such short notice.
Also serves as a warnign for any other engines under care of a municipal authority.
If you are looking to the GoFundme site for 503, its located at the end of the original Trains News item http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/02/19-emergency-fund-to-save-steam-locomotive-tops-20000-potential-home-emerges
You will need to cut/paste the GoFundme URL into your browser.
As of near Mid-night 02/21, she is about $ 1,2000 left to go. Every $ 5 or $ 10 dollars count to save this grand old lady for generations to come.
Come one folks, we can get this done.
Thanks.
Saw on Facebook that the appeal had exceeded its $65K goal!
Huzzah!!!
Hats off to Mr Sobcynski and Mr Hovey, AND all who chipped in. We saved a grand lady for the future. Thanks all!:>
Thank You.
Good catch. In the second picture was surprised the whistle was still on the steam dome. Check ebay and these whistle command $ 1K to 2K. Hope the builder plate shows up safe and sound.
The smokebox front will need some welding. This indicates 503’s stake was open to the weather and water damage. If you see pictures from the steam era of stored locomotives, you note the stake is capped with a tin cap, or plate with the ends hammered down. Some had canvas traps tied down as well as the headlights.
Anyone know how much time the city is giving to have her moved?
As I understand it, the City’s ownership of 503 was transferred to the environmental remediation company as partial (or full?) payment for the service of cleaning up and removing asbestos and oil on or around the locomotive; and for removing the locomotive from the site.
Obviously the locomotive has value as scrap or as an item to be restored for display or operation. Does the agreement for this remediation work place any requirements on the contractor regarding what is done with the locomotive other than removing it from the site? Is the agreement available for public examination?
My understanding is no, and no: the contractor received all right, title and interest and assumed all liability. Judging by the way the city management handled the decision, I’d be surprised if there is a public record, especially if there are other ‘normal’ services procurement requirements like multiple bid.
Jason et al. were smart enough to go to the scrapper and get that transfer of title and interest arranged ASAP. While there is probably some time restriction on removal, there should be little practical delay in arranging cranes or jacks, appropriate lowboy, and ‘safe’ slinging or pads.
The reason I ask is this notice posted elsewhere:
The Port Arthur, TX city council agenda for the meeting to be held at 2-27-2018 at 5:30 PM includes the following item:
E. Discussion
(1) To Discuss And Possibly Take Action Regarding The Abatement, Remediation And Related Matters As It Pertains To KCS Engine No. 503 Located In Bryan Park (Requested By Councilmember Doucet)
https://cityhall.portarthur.net:444/WebLink/0/doc/146613/Page1.aspx
I guess we will find out soon enough. Maybe “take action” just amounts to agreeing that the job has been completed satisfactorily.
It could be that they have to revoke their contract with the demolition firm and grant a permit for removal to the preservation group.
Depending on the location and the size of the truck, they may need police assistance with traffic to get it out of the park area, etc.
In most cities you can’t build a Lincoln Log house with your kid without a permit.
Based on my own personal experience with building construction and renovation, I am thinking it might be that kind of housekeeping.
I did not watch the meeting tonight, but I understand from what has been posted on RPN that the City says they are the sole owner of the locomotive at this time, and that no decision has been made on what to do with the locomotive.
I had undstood that the ownership of the locomotive had been secured by the people conducting the fund raising, and that they had acqured ownership from the company that did the environmental remediation, and that that company had acquired ownership of the locomotive from the City. What’s going on here?
Now that there is a known $65K plus on the table, watch the City demand its share of the pie?
Don’t see how you could have scrappers on site with wrecking equipment, who then negotiated transfer of the ‘asset’ intact instead of destroying it in pieces, without at least an oral-contract transfer of ownership. The scrapper was certainly not acting as the agent of the City.
Get the popcorn; this will be interesting, and I have to worry that 503 may not be out of the woods if the secretive City management becomes vindictive…
I’ll say.
Amazing. The city wanted to be rid of 503 badly enough that they were willing to watch her be cut up, and now that someone else is willing to take the engine off their hands they are obstructing that.
I wonder what price the city sold/gave her to the scrapper for. Or did they PAY to have the engine removed? Perhaps someone fell into hot water at city hall after the $35,000 price was revealed.