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Steam & Excursion > Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda Engine 503Date: 03/20/18 17:13 Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda Engine 503 Author: Cumbresfan From Monday's Port Arthur News (3/19), editorial by the publisher Richard Macke:
(Excerpted) Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda Engine 503 Going from having nobody care, to everybody care would be an emotional roller coaster for any person. But we are not talking about a person; we are talking about a train engine. The saga of Kansas City Southern 503 has been well documented over the previous months and followers of the story know all too well about the mistakes made during the decision-making process of what to do with it. So let’s not get into all that again. What’s important now is how to handle it, where it will go and who will pay for it. It’s been rotting away for years, just like Rose Hill. Is Port Arthur really going to revive the engine? Will residents really pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore it? If not, let it go to someone who will. During a special meeting at City Hall on March 6, held specifically for citizens to voice their opinions on the train, some individuals claimed it was a part of our city’s history and urged City Council to try to find a way to keep it. Others theatrically threw out a $100 dollar bill stating, “Here’s a start.” Sadly this little train engine that could have was never given a chance here in Port Arthur. And quite honestly it needs to be handed over to a group that will take care of it on their own dime. ~~~snip ~~~ Our community continues to struggle with growing cost for infrastructure repairs, street repairs that never happen, drainage issues that continue with every rainfall, Rose Hill that continues to look older by the day, a downtown that has yet to see its promised revitalization, struggles within the Port Arthur Police Department, trash pickups that are not yet back to normal, citywide debris from neighborhoods still working to recover from the flooding by Tropical Storm Harvey, the most murders to start off a year in a very long time, and a city hall coping with its recent change. Let me be clear, I’m not saying that the 503 is not important, because it is important to someone. But the “right” someone. By prioritizing the above items of need, I’m certain that the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to keep and maintain the 503 would not be anywhere near the top of this list. Port Arthur has had 60 years to show this train how much it meant to the city. Unfortunately that became 60 years of rotting decay and did not become important until Texas Commission on Environmental Quality forced the move. Had the flood not happened, and TCEQ not told the city of Port Arthur it had to be moved, 10 years from now it would still be sitting there becoming more rusted and decayed than it is today. As it would still not be taken care of. The city of Port Arthur has many more important issues that should be their focus and need their continued attention. A group of 1,259 train enthusiasts from across the nation came together and raised nearly $70,000 dollars in just a few days. Heck, we can barely get that many registered voters to the polls on Election Day. Let those that truly want the train, have the train. http://www.panews.com/2018/03/19/woulda-shoulda-coulda-engine-503/ https://www.gofundme.com/help-save-the-la-503-friends-of?viewupdates=1 Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/18 17:19 by Cumbresfan. Date: 03/20/18 17:29 Re: Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda Engine 503 Author: wabash2800 This kind of reminds me of the Alco PA diesels in Mexico. The more the American fans were interested in saving them, the more they stayed in Mexico... We only got the wrecked ones. The city would be wise to receive payment for the loco to send it to a good home and not have to worry about future maintenance and liability.
Victor A. Baird http:///www.erstwhlepublications.com Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/18 17:30 by wabash2800. |