Steam & Excursion > Help save L&A #503 from IMMEDIATE scrapping

https://www.gofundme.com/help-save-the-la-503-friends-of

IMMEDIATE GOAL:

Raise $50,000 to purchase the locomotive from the city's contractor and move it to the Texas State Railroad for interim storage. The locomotive is currently slated for demolition and scrapping in the next few days!

THE PLAN:

1) Purchase the locomotive from the contractor hired to perform the demolition and fund the move of the locomotive out of Port Arthur.
2) Place the locomotive under the care of a non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to its ongoing rehabilitation.
3) Finalize arrangements for the use of a restoration facility and restore the locomotive operation via funding provided through donations and from The Royal Palm Railway Experience which is operated by the Orlando and Northwestern Railroad in Florida.
4) Move the locomotive to Florida for long-term operation with the Orlando and Northwestern Railway. This is a campaign to save a locomotive that does have a future! These funds will accomplish the purchase from the scrapper and the initial move from the park to the Texas State Railroad.

I hope to donate at least $10 today.

http://theroundhousepodcast.com/2018/02/17/072-saving-steam-loco-last-second/

a great interview with Jason Sobczynski by Nick Ozorak of the 'Roundhouse Podcast', which answers a lot of questions.

As of 11:40am (Central) they have reached $40,908 in the drive to $50,000. Over 4/5 of the way there.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

I donated.

Hard to understand a mindset that would fast-track the scrapping of such a historic piece.

If the fundraising keeps up the pace, it'll probably reach the $50,000 goal by tonight. I gave $100 yesterday and hope for their success.

akpsteam Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the fundraising keeps up the pace, it'll
> probably reach the $50,000 goal by tonight. I gave
> $100 yesterday and hope for their success.


Just hit $41,000....

(EDITED) Make that $41,330...

(EDITED AGAIN) Make that $41,680

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/18 10:01 by MaryMcPherson.

And what proof do we have that the GoFundMe campain is legit and not a scam?

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And what proof do we have that the GoFundMe
> campain is legit and not a scam?


Try contacting Jason Sobczysnki, on his FaceBook page?

jst3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And what proof do we have that the GoFundMe
> campain is legit and not a scam?

If you’ve never heard of the man behind this campaign, “Jason Sobczynski is the proprietor of NextGen Rail Services and specializes in steam locomotive and historic railroad preservation.”

He has done work on some well known steam locomitives such as NKP 765 and Southern 4501.

You could also email him: thatsteamguy@yahoo.com



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/18 10:56 by Appalachianrails.

Local newspaper story:
http://www.panews.com/2018/02/18/locomotive-fund-raiser-account-soars-over-weekend/

WOW! Now approaching over $44,000!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/18 11:37 by Cumbresfan.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Local newspaper story:
> http://www.panews.com/2018/02/18/locomotive-fund-r
> aiser-account-soars-over-weekend/
>
> WOW! Now approaching over $44,000!!


Passed it just now...

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jst3751 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > And what proof do we have that the GoFundMe
> > campain is legit and not a scam?
>
>
> Try contacting Jason Sobczysnki, on his FaceBook
> page?

Facebook

1:58pm Central, they have passed the $45,000 mark....

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

After reading the background on this situation, this appears to be a case of government running amok.

The reason this became such an urgent and critical matter is that the TX environmental agency found that there was oil that leaked (was this an oil burner) from the locomotive and mandated the owner remove the soil from where the oil leaked to. That would have only been possible by moving the loco. The city said 'we don't have the will or the way to do this' so they opted to rid themselves of the problem locomotive. They had a short time to resolve this before they were to be fined.

I find this outrageous and a clear cause for concern for other train displays around the country. It seems that the fundraising will save this loco, but which one is next? Which municipality will be forced by EPA, insurance, or something similar to rid themselves of a liability that many see an old locomotive to be?

This engine was not harming anyone, and it sounds like many in the community are sad this locomotive is being forcibly removed. This is part of Americana that many, and not just railfans, appreciate.

Not critical, but the ATSF 2926 group has a GoFundMe for their tool car. They are two-thirds of the way toward their goal of $150,000:
https://www.gofundme.com/SantaFE2926

(PS - I already donated to the #503 fund)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/18 12:07 by Cumbresfan.

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After reading the background on this situation,
> this appears to be a case of government running
> amok.
>
> The reason this became such an urgent and critical
> matter is that the TX environmental agency found
> that there was oil that leaked (was this an oil
> burner) from the locomotive and mandated the owner
> remove the soil from where the oil leaked to.
> That would have only been possible by moving the
> loco. The city said 'we don't have the will or
> the way to do this' so they opted to rid
> themselves of the problem locomotive. They had a
> short time to resolve this before they were to be
> fined.
>
> I find this outrageous and a clear cause for
> concern for other train displays around the
> country. It seems that the fundraising will save
> this loco, but which one is next? Which
> municipality will be forced by EPA, insurance, or
> something similar to rid themselves of a liability
> that many see an old locomotive to be?
>
> This engine was not harming anyone, and it sounds
> like many in the community are sad this locomotive
> is being forcibly removed. This is part of
> Americana that many, and not just railfans,
> appreciate.

The rule of unintended consequences resulting from poorly worded legislation....

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After reading the background on this situation,
> this appears to be a case of government running
> amok.
>
> The reason this became such an urgent and critical
> matter is that the TX environmental agency found
> that there was oil that leaked (was this an oil
> burner) from the locomotive and mandated the owner
> remove the soil from where the oil leaked to.
> That would have only been possible by moving the
> loco. The city said 'we don't have the will or
> the way to do this' so they opted to rid
> themselves of the problem locomotive. They had a
> short time to resolve this before they were to be
> fined.
> ...

That's rich. The Port Arthur/Beaumont area has a high concentration of oil refineries and related oil shipping facilities. Spills and leaks are not uncommon. The big ones are reported, the little ones are (hopefully) cleaned up by the responsible party. An oil drip from an old locomotive should not be a critical problem. BTW, the area is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Harvey flooding and the pollution occurring therefrom.

...I find this outrageous and a clear cause for concern for other train displays around the country. It seems that the fundraising will save this loco, but which one is next? Which municipality will be forced by EPA, insurance, or something similar to rid themselves of a liability that many see an old locomotive to be?

Asbestos is usually the trigger mechanism causing city officials concern. If that has been removed, it will be something else. Old locomotives on public display are subject to all sorts of criticism from being an eyesore to a public nuisance.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> P Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > After reading the background on this situation,
> > this appears to be a case of government running
> > amok.
> >
> > The reason this became such an urgent and
> critical
> > matter is that the TX environmental agency
> found
> > that there was oil that leaked (was this an oil
> > burner) from the locomotive and mandated the
> owner
> > remove the soil from where the oil leaked to.
> > That would have only been possible by moving
> the
> > loco. The city said 'we don't have the will or
> > the way to do this' so they opted to rid
> > themselves of the problem locomotive. They had
> a
> > short time to resolve this before they were to
> be
> > fined.
> > ...
>
> That's rich. The Port Arthur/Beaumont area has a
> high concentration of oil refineries and related
> oil shipping facilities. Spills and leaks are not
> uncommon. The big ones are reported, the little
> ones are (hopefully) cleaned up by the responsible
> party. An oil drip from an old locomotive should
> not be a critical problem. BTW, the area is still
> recovering from the devastation of Hurricane
> Harvey flooding and the pollution occurring
> therefrom.

So before everyone goes screaming at the government, could the oil contamination have been found as a result of cleanup efforts from the flooding, and as such it absolutely does need to be cleaned up, and quite possibly has to be cleaned up ASAP because it is otherwise causing or has the potential to cause additional problems in the near future?

And so therefore shouldn't any outcries be at the city of whoever else was responsible for the ownership/upkeep of the engine for not taking common precautionary steps to protect the environment?

And just because there are commonly found oil leaks in industrial areas does not mean that should be acceptable in areas where children and others gather or have access to for recreational purposes.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/18 12:30 by jst3751.