It was in the Friday August 15th Stillwater Gazette. The cry babies of the city council saw children climbing on the locomotives and said the engines were a public hazard. They are saying that his engines sitting on HIS property are abandoned. They are giving him until September 29th to move them out of town. Another thing said was they thought it would be embarrassing for the city to have to look at them next to a ribbon cutting of the new bike trail that’s being built on the former Zephyr right of way. What a bunch of whiners!
Move them out of town or what? They get really cranky?
Here is an article:
From the article:
“Just imagine what that would look like when the new trail opens up and everybody’s down there with their scissors to cut the ribbons, and there’s bunting and all of that, and there’s two big ugly trains,” he said. “It’s a public safety problem. It’s also an embarrassment. We’ve got to do something.”
Tempest in a teapot. The equipment does seem to have been left sitting in a very public area, albeit his property, for a long time. I wonder how he was able to call it “Zephyr” since it seems to have no relation to any of the real Zephyrs. In this view, the B unit looks like it is on part of the bike trail?
At first I pictured them as sitting on rails, perhaps next to an old station, as something of a historical display. Instead they’re sitting here and there.
I’d hardly call them ugly in and of themselves, but the way they’re sitting there certainly is.
There was a similar confrontation over one of the two locomotives about a year or so ago. That one had been active on the dinner train and was left standing on city property. There was a threat of scrapping that, as I recall, came from both the city and the owner. The engine was then moved to the owner’s property near the depot. As I recall, there was already another engine at that location which had been stored or displayed there for some time. I have not seen comprehensive photos of the two engines currently at the depot. Generally, I think the owner’s intent is to sell the engines rather than leaving them as a display.
There appears to be an issue of style and fashion that is at dispute regarding the symbolism of two antique locomotives and a new trail.
Beauty is definitely not in the eye of whoever it was who called the train “ugly.” (new paragraph)Do the crybabies not worry about the dangers inherent in children climbing trees?
Sorry the link doesn’t seem to work. It is to a Google Map street view from the back. It clearly shows the B unit is partially sitting on what appears to be the bike trail.
“Harrumph, harrumph, harrumph.”
“I didn’t get a ‘harrumph’ out of that guy!”
“Give the Governor a harrumph!”
Or am I the only one that was reminded of that scene?[:P]
Here is an article linked from Aug.17, 2014 The Stillwater Gazette @ http://www.twincities.com/ci_22092194/stillwater-zephyr-owner-get-your-locomotive-off-city
A little “Google Search” shows this thing has been brewing since 2008 when the “Zyphyr” apparently made its last run(?) and as time has passed the rhetoric ahnd possibly attitudes have gotten increasingly more “Cranky” on both sides of the issue…The owner resides in Florida, and out of the area. The Town Council has gotten increasingly more recalcitrant about getting the engines moved.
Apparently, one effort by the owner to move one of the diesels went awry , and the trailer rig that was to move the diesel broke down and the one engine was ‘spotted’ on city property and left. Now the ribbon cutting for the hiking trail that occupies the former right of way of the Stillwater Zephyr is about to be dedicated amidst the carcasses of the former dinner trains locomotive carcasses…The Town Council has given the owner, Mr.Paradeau, until the 29th of September of this year to move the diesels out…Or they will have it done and charger a special assessment to the Tax Bill of Mr. Paradeau…
Where’s that pop corn machine when you need it? [^o)]
If possible - fire them up and have them break the ribbon for the RAIL-trail. The only appropriate way to signify that it is a RAIL trail.
I believe that article is from 2012 when the city was trying to force the locomotive owner to remove the one F-unit off of city property. It had been left there when the mover had the equipment breakdown that you mention. Ultimately, that locomotive was moved a short distance to the owner’s property by the depot.
Today, we are entering a second chapter where the city wants the locomotive moved off of his own property and public view. I understand there are two locomotives at issue here. One had been at the depot site prior to moving the other one there around 2012.
One of the issues I read is someone vandalized the units and stole the batteries. They may have become eyesores. Still it would be a shame to lose these units. Rgds IGN
How’s that again? What is it that makes the presence of railroad locomotives inappropriate at the official opening of a bike trail on a former railroad right-of-way, beside a former railroad station? I’m confloosed.
Can anybody tell us the history/heritage of the units?
Tom
See if I can fix the link to the referenced google map images.
if that link doesn’t work, highlight the whole thing (Click on one end and drag the mouse with the button down to the other end), then copy the link to the clipboard (type Ctrl-C) then open a new browser window and paste (Ctrl-V) the clipboard to the URL textbox of the browser then click the “Go” arrow or type “Enter”.
If you click on the small oval that appears over the image you can shift the viewpoint and that will reveal that both of the engines are “A” units.
Here’s an alternative Google Maps link: http://goo.gl/maps/0moJY Keep zooming in to hit Street View.
Seeing all those boats says it all. Yupscale suburbanites want a prettified town. Pretty soon the depot / former steakhouse will be demolished to be replaced by a Applebees or a Chilis.
Both are A units. Neither is on rail, just sitting in a parking lot or on a dirt trail. You seem to think the residents of a local community should have nothing to say? The owner is an absentee and lives in Florida. If the former depot which he owns becomes neglected and rundown, it will/should be demolished.
They definitely don’t look ugly. I’ll stop and take pictures. I’ll reply again later. I live here in Stillwater. I bought their former weed spraying truck 10 years ago. Is there a way to post pictures?
Shrink wrap the engine in plastic - like the boats in storage.
Looks like there are two tracks adjacent to the depot - with 3 engine trucks on the track nearest the depot and the 4th truck in the parking lot. Engine in the ‘road’ between the tracks.
You have to upload them to a photo site or web space, then link to that.