Railway Preservation News
http://www.rypn.org/forums/

Trying to save the 503
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41678
Page 2 of 33

Author:  AlcoC420 [ Sat Feb 17, 2018 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Should this locomotive be saved, with the help of this funding drive, then who will become the official owner of the locomotive?

Author:  bigjim4life [ Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

More information has been made available on Facebook, from "The Royal Palm Railway Experience":

"The Royal Palm team is pleased to offer an opportunity to help save a steam engine in peril of imminent scrapping.

Louisiana & Arkansas 503 is a 1913 built 4-6-0 that is currently in Port Arthur, TX. If saved and restored, the Royal Palm Rail Experience and Orlando & Northwestern Railway is a willing potential host and long term home for the 503.

There is a Go Fund Me page established for Friends of the 503 to cover the immediate conservation and removal needs of the locomotive.

One of the leading questions we get is do you have or have plans for a steam engine?

The Royal Palm/O&NW has agreed to allow the 503 to pull our trains upon its successful salvation and restoration.

The restoration of a steam locomotive is a huge undertaking, and while we are a new company, it is difficult to raise the necessary funds. We are able to contribute labor and resources to this process, and look forward to helping this locomotive live again. Please visit the Friends of the 503 GoFundMe page at the link listed below and read over the details regarding this locomotive. It is an enormous undertaking and a long road, but one we feel is worth helping out.

This opportunity is sort of an answer to that question - but the 503 needs to be saved from scrapping first if it were to run again, anywhere. It would be perfectly suited for operation in the Golden Triangle - small yet powerful enough to pull our modern passenger cars.

We wanted to share this amongst our friends followers in an effort to help save this engine for future generations to understand and enjoy the allure of steam.

Thank you for the consideration and support in seeing the 503 saved."

Author:  Chris Webster [ Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Trains magazine Newswire article: Preservationists launch emergency GoFundMe page for Texas steam locomotive

A key section of the article:
Quote:
Time is critical as the contractor is already behind schedule, and equipment is already on site to cut up the engine.

“The only reason the engine is still here is because it rained so hard last week,” independent steam locomotive mechanic Jason Sobczynski told Trains Newswire Saturday. “If it had not been for the rain, it would have already been cut up."

Author:  Train-a-Mania [ Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

More details are included in this interview:

https://wp.me/p5IPAr-nj

Author:  Mount Royal [ Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

bigjim4life wrote:
It would be perfectly suited for operation in the Golden Triangle - small yet powerful enough to pull our modern passenger cars.



From one Golden Triangle to another, eh? It would be ironic seeing as the area of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange is called the Golden Triangle as well.

Author:  Rick Rowlands [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Over $13,000 raised so far.

Author:  WVNorthern [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 1:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Does anyone have a recent photo of this engine that they could post?

Author:  superheater [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 2:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Donation made.

Author:  Richard Glueck [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

donation made

Author:  Train-a-Mania [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

WVNorthern wrote:
Does anyone have a recent photo of this engine that they could post?


https://wp.me/p5IPAr-nj

Author:  elueck [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Thursday afternoon

Attachments:
IMG_20180215_165008212.jpg
IMG_20180215_165008212.jpg [ 122.2 KiB | Viewed 7492 times ]
IMG_20180215_164911884.jpg
IMG_20180215_164911884.jpg [ 98.77 KiB | Viewed 7492 times ]
IMG_20180215_164901144_HDR.jpg
IMG_20180215_164901144_HDR.jpg [ 133.45 KiB | Viewed 7492 times ]
IMG_20180215_165104465_HDR.jpg
IMG_20180215_165104465_HDR.jpg [ 117.6 KiB | Viewed 7492 times ]

Author:  elueck [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

For what is is worth, the City of Allen, Texas has been attempting to deal with the owner as well.

Author:  Tom Davidson [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

What am I missing here? Supposedly, Port Arthur was led to believe the problem was the presence of asbestos. The most recent photos, posted by elueck, show that the boiler sheeting and asbestos lagging have already been removed. It would appear that the problem has been solved, or there never was a problem in the first place. Who can explain?

Tom

Author:  bbunge [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Tom Davidson wrote:
What am I missing here? Supposedly, Port Arthur was led to believe the problem was the presence of asbestos. The most recent photos, posted by elueck, show that the boiler sheeting and asbestos lagging have already been removed. It would appear that the problem has been solved, or there never was a problem in the first place. Who can explain?

Tom


Jason has broadcast live from his Facebook page the past couple of days. He has commented during the flood, fuel was leaking out of the tender and this was noticed during the post Harvey flood by the state environmental agency, which put a deadline on the city to clean it up, leading to current events. Once the fuel leak was noticed, so was the asbestos.

Jason's live updates have been both entertaining and also very informative; he has walked around the locomotive, pointing out everything from maintenance date markings (axles) to weldments (brake rigging) to weld build up on thin tires and flanges, to high water marks (just below the leading track axle centers). During yesterday's broadcast, he was spray painting outlines to cut out applicances for saving, in case they end up cutting up the locomotive.

Bob

Author:  RookieFireman [ Sun Feb 18, 2018 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Trying to save the 503

Donation made. If you've ever wanted to prove that you're more than an armchair foamer (even with just money), this is the opportunity to do so.

Page 2 of 33 All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/