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KCS #503 in jeopardy
http://rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=41661		 Page 3 of 4
Author:  CREEPING DEATH [ Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
It sounds like somebody needs to give a call to the AG's (or IG's) office about this... sounds like the city is being defrauded by a contractor, and the city violated state law.
A family member retired from the IG's office, I'll see what I can do...

CD
Author:  Mount Royal [ Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
The Port Arthur News ran another story on the subject. This time, it expresses the preservation community’s desire to save the 503 and the apparent lack of communication with historical groups regarding its disposition. The reporter goes as far as raising questions regarding the city’s handling of the situation and contacts the city designated spokesperson with no response. Since then, the city has withdrawn their spokesperson and states they will release a statement soon, maybe today. A link to the article can be found below.

https://goo.gl/YcaGn7
Author:  tweetsie12 [ Fri Mar 23, 2018 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Well Thank Goodness it was saved!
Author:  Alan [ Sun Feb 13, 2022 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Well it's almost 4 years later and I was wondering if the 503 was somehow still there.

Street view shows it to be on the same corner, albeit moved (dragged, as seen in a youtube video) onto a new piece of track and the old resting spot appears to have been abated. The engine's jacket is gone and still no cap on the stack.

At least it still exists...
Author:  TrainDetainer [ Tue Feb 22, 2022 2:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Deleted - more fake news.
Author:  Mark Locke [ Tue Feb 22, 2022 3:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Sawenhalve Scrap is a fake company. I have seen them post several asinine statements on Facebook stating that such and such steam locomotive has been sold.to them for scrapping.
Author:  Tails [ Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Read the name of the company really slowly. Saw-en-halve
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Tue Feb 22, 2022 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
If you haven't had a close look yet, here she be:

http://www.rgusrail.com/txkcs503.html
Author:  Mount Royal [ Sat Aug 13, 2022 5:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Here she is as of August 9, 2022. Took a trip home and stopped by to look. Ugh.

No permanent fence or any apparent efforts to care for this artifact they couldn’t live without.

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Author:  John Risley [ Sun Aug 14, 2022 9:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Well on the bright side: The jacketing and insulation is removed and that is a very good thing. And expensive to have done. The locomotive was rolled and while not far that is a good thing. Not much of a fence to protect it, but now it has something. Not going to stop anybody even remotely serious about stealing jewelry. But what is?

If the city ever comes to its senses and somebody wants to go through the trouble of moving this engine it is way more doable now than before. Same eyesore and who knows about money and manpower to do a cosmetic attempt to make it look pretty? Like it or not it is in better shape now than before. Just not pretty. Be interesting in a couple of years to see who is in office to see if that attitude of the city doesn't change. Letting this locomotive go away is better than tearing down historical buildings for parking ramps. Letting it go makes the problem go away. Letting sit longer prolongs the need for it to find a new home and scrapping makes for bad press. In a few years the city management team may change and things might go differently. Nice sized locomotive for many operations and a fine display. Wish it luck. Regards, John.
Author:  PMC [ Sun Aug 14, 2022 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Could the city be convinced to trade it for a shiny cosmetically restored saddletanker or such, and maybe a caboose, I doubt they would care about authenticity.
Author:  Richard Glueck [ Sun Aug 14, 2022 7:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
These are all good suggestions. Some thoughts: If it is the last KCS steam loco, that carries some critical weight for restoring it and putting it under cover. No doubt the local government is aware of what it has cost them to date, and that those expenses will likely double back on them regularly. Determine a place where the locomotive is guaranteed to receive attention, whether it's a museum or tourist line. Operational restoration is the best case, so it will need mechanical evaluation at minimum and then an itemized approach to bringing it back. Never let it be thought the locomotive is being "taken away". Rather approach it as the best option to making a critical transportation history artifact available in a best case environment. Stress the best approach argument and don't make empty promises. Always answer a negative argument with positive reasoning.
Author:  QJdriver [ Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
I notice that somebody patched the bottom cab sides, but it was so long ago that the patches have rotted. Port Author is just about the worst climate possible for an outdoor display. Anybody dreaming of getting this one to run again better figure on a new boiler --- feel free to prove me wrong, as usual.
Author:  co614 [ Sun Aug 14, 2022 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
Don't waste ANY effort on this as the City Fathers of Port Arthur proved conclusively that they don't want any advice nor help and they're going to maintain the status quo no matter what.

Many worthwhile projects where you can make a real difference.

This ain't one of them.

Ross Rowland
Author:  Pegasuspinto [ Tue Aug 16, 2022 12:21 am ]
Post subject:  Re: KCS #503 in jeopardy
This unit was never going to be scrapped. The 'abatement' was paid for in trade for the engine, but this engine was going to display in a different Texas city, probably the same one the Reader RR engine is now going to. The whole scrap thing blew up in their face, and it was probably shady dealin', so the whole thing fell through when we looked closer. Then southern politics came into play, tainted with a good dose of racial stress. I don't have any 'sources' but I remember early on the rumor that it was going to get moved, and then much later, the Reader engine was going to to the same town.

The engine is not KCS. I Believe it is a Louisiana and Arkansas engine, that was purchased off of the scrap line for display in Port Arthur when KCS realized they didn't have any engines left to donate for display.
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