What is Happening to AT&SF #3417

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Mon Aug 10, 1998 11:42 am

Last month there were a number of postings concerning AT&SF 4-6-2 #3417 in Cleburne, TX. My understanding was that the city fathers were considering scrapping the engine. Does anyone know what has been happening in the last six weeks? 

bwi04@icelandair.is

Hume Kading · **Posted:** Mon Aug 10, 1998 11:59 am

The latest news we have on the engine is at the link below.
Cleburne #3417

hkading@rypn.org

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 1998 6:20 am

Hume,It seems that once again I am in your debt. I was concerned about #3417 as Pacifics are among my favorite steam locomotives.I want to publicly thank you for your persistence in helping me solve my access problem to your board. It's great to be back!Best regards, Kevin 

bwi04@icelandair.is

Hume Kading · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:32 am

Anybody know what's happening with SF 3417 in Cleburne? The group that was supposed to restore and operate it has vanished into the prairie winds.

Hume Kading · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:48 am

OK, now that the posts bubble to the top in flat, or thread view, ask again, anybody know what's going on with SF #3417.

I went to Cleburne and saw the engine last spring. look pretty much unchanged. The sign for the group that was going to restore it is gone, as is the group.

Several years ago there was talk by the city of getting rid of the engine, but the locals jumped in, formed their group, did nothing, and now they're gone.

Any idea what the city's intetnions are?

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 7:57 pm

I did not realize that I have been posting on this board for almost eight years!

hi-plains · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:17 am

[quote="Hume Kading"]Several years ago there was talk by the city of getting rid of the engine, but the locals jumped in, formed their group, did nothing, and now they're gone.

Any idea what the city's intentions are?[/quote]

Not to scrap the engine quite yet. The thumbnail is as follows:
The "locals", as you refer to, did manage to convince the city to enact a sales tax for a number of community projects, including a rail museum of which 3417 was to be the centerpiece.

However, a simultaneous bout of infighting within the group itself, coupled with the city's using up the tax money on one of the other community projects because of cost overruns casued the 3417 project to fizzle.

The group's founder has reorganized with a new entity which just received IRS 501c[3] status. and is presently seeking new funding.

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:52 am

I find myself a new resident of Cleburne, thanks to Hurricane Rita. I now live just down the street from Hulet Park, the home of AT&SF #3417.

I agree that there is no sign of work on the engine now. The air pump and one of the air tanks are gone; I presume they were being rebuilt as part of the restoration? The lagging and insulation are also gone; the engine appears to have been recently repainted by the firm that runs the old Santa Fe shops in Cleburne.

Every year, Hulet Park is decorated for Christmas with the theme "Whistlestop Christmas". 3417 is also decorated, as shown below. The sign on her tender reads "Spirit of Cleburne", and they blew her whistle the weekend before Christmas; although I wasn't able to be there.

Her future seems to be safe for the time being. Cleburne Parks does have a pair of 50 foot boxcars without trucks they are trying to get rid of; if anyone is interested. There is still much in the way of rail-related items around Cleburne - the old Santa Fe shops, the station (still being used by Amtrak), and the 1898 Railroad House.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 773

In the not so distant past,the Fort Worth and Western was going to aquire her and run her on the Tarantula train. When the city found out that there would not be a train between Fort Worth and Cleburne,the project was scuttled.