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Taking care of the old railroad
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Author:  technoty [ Wed Jul 11, 2012 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Taking care of the old railroad
In recent years, we've noticed many rail lines abandoned throughout the country. Most towns on those lines are left without a trace of the railroad, unless if the depot still stands. Very few can keep a trace for historical purposes, and that's in my town, Blythe.

In February, I started discussions with the local city manager about my support for a railroad attraction in town. After bringing up few sample railcars the town may have one day, he becomes dependable to me that I should pick what's best for the town. On March 1st, I went to an economic conference in the local fairgrounds along with my high school principal. The conference was filled with several local "celebrities", usually economical and political. During the presentation, the city manager explains the loss of the railroad last year, but tells them the "comeback" thing. After he introduced the railroad attraction ideas to everyone, and pointed to me to everyone, they all gave me an applause for these contributions.

Overtime, I reduced my thoughts of required railcars from 4 to 1-2 in a short period. I never told the city manager on this, but he realistically sets the limit of having railcars at a time, and I'm okay with that. Unfortunately, the town has a lack of funds, so we are thinking of methods to raise funds to acquire the initial railcar (a caboose or passenger car).

In April, a cleanup day was announced by one of the councilmen, who wants to make a better image of Blythe. I immediately talked to the city manager about cleaning up where the donated tracks are, and he seems to allow it.

In the first meeting taken in May, I think, I question the councilman if I cleanup the site. He welcomes the idea, but it wasn't a priority to clean that area; the main park and areas east are priority locations. In June, during the 2nd meeting, I made few questions, but now not always related to the railroad cleanup. The answers, are the same as before, but with more emphasis to what's important to clean.

On the day before the cleanup, I went biking to eat at Taco Bell, then went east to where the remaining tracks are. I "surveyed" the area to see where to cleanup. This image shows a portion of the 300 foot long track.



http://www.panoramio.com/photo/73951394

Then at tomorrow morning, the cleanup has begun. With a bag and pickup gloves, I started working at the park, where the event started at. There are children, and their parents, usually mothers. The only one with me is one of my parents, too.

Both of us picked up trash throughout the park's grass, and an entire baseball field nearby. I told the councilman one more time to clean up the rail site, and so he granted me and my mother to work there.

Upon arrival to the tracks, I realized that the trash there is quite more severe than average in the park. There are bottle glass shards, trash next to and even under the tracks (in the turnout), and a white box in front of the turnout. The weeds are easy to take out, since they're yellow and dead.

Unfortunately, the day got hotter at 9 o'clock, and my mother was getting exhausted from the work. I decided to go home after the little work in the tracks. The last things I had thrown away were a soda cup and the white box.

My work on the tracks is much incomplete, but the town cleanup day is said to be the beginning of a series of days devoted to clean the town. I'm glad to here that. It was said that another one will be held at near winter, when most snow birds have arrived. I'm expecting to be back to clean the only railroad tracks left in downtown, with permission from the town.

(Removed image 2012-06-15 12.34.49.jpg on May 6, 2015)
Author:  tomgears [ Fri Jul 13, 2012 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
I'm not sure I understand the long range plan here. Are we talking about a display, museum, or excursion?
Author:  car57 [ Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
Congratulations on 'doing' something, the city boss will recognize your enthusiasm and in the long term it will pay off for you. Dont give up on the ideas and enthusiasm.

I didnt and it has reaped rewards beyond anything i could have imagined both here (Cheyenne) and in the UK.

Mike Pannell
Car 57, Caboose 2516, Car 56, Cheyenne Depot Museum and Hastings Diesels Ltd
Author:  technoty [ Mon Jul 16, 2012 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
tomgears wrote:
I'm not sure I understand the long range plan here. Are we talking about a display, museum, or excursion?


The plan calls for a display. The display may have tiny bits of museum content, but we also planned to host a small shop in the display. The latter was suggested by the city manager. I originally intended it as a museum, but that would be expensive and not well received.

The problem is RailAmerica allows the track for "minor, non financial use". Few others even suggested the commercial offerings without regarding that fact, but I least want it to make a tourist attraction in this town. There's no other known tourist attraction in the city limits; all others are outside of town, in my opinion geographic and ancient Native American works.

BTW, I believe it was my letter to the editor on the local newspaper that gave attention to the city manager, so he knows I'm a "genius" to the plan.
Author:  technoty [ Thu Feb 14, 2013 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
It's been a while since the last post. Contrary to what I said in the first post, there are no cleanups done in December due to how busy the city is to issues. But the same city counselor proposed another, second cleanup to take place in March.

I wish more people helped me in this project to set up this display, local or so. However, the city also plans a welcome center, which is more expensive than the railcar project. Therefore, I'm worried if their plans would ultimately reject further development on a former Santa Fe railroad track.
Author:  Bob Hall [ Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
As you've already made contact with the local paper, why don't you write an article asking for volunteers to come and help on a particular day?
That's a good way to gauge the level of interest from the town people.
Having established a rail museum myself in a country town, I can tell you that you won't get far unless you have ongoing physical support from the population, but if you are seen to be doing good things, your Council will be far more supportive in many ways.
Cheers, Bob
Author:  technoty [ Thu Feb 14, 2013 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
Bob Hall wrote:
As you've already made contact with the local paper, why don't you write an article asking for volunteers to come and help on a particular day?
That's a good way to gauge the level of interest from the town people.
Having established a rail museum myself in a country town, I can tell you that you won't get far unless you have ongoing physical support from the population, but if you are seen to be doing good things, your Council will be far more supportive in many ways.
Cheers, Bob

Looks like a good idea. I wouldn't want so many people to comment against this project, but I'll give it a shot. Thanks.
Author:  superheater [ Sat Feb 16, 2013 2:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
On the day before the cleanup, I went biking to eat at Taco Bell,

Are you ok after such an ordeal?
Author:  technoty [ Sat Feb 16, 2013 6:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Taking care of the old railroad
superheater wrote:
On the day before the cleanup, I went biking to eat at Taco Bell,

Are you ok after such an ordeal?

Well, it doesn't matter if I put a bit of detail unrelated to my goal, but I'll avoid that again. I just went to lunch before taking pictures on the track and inspecting it prior to the cleanup.

Recent times and last February are considered ordeals to me and this project. In that "last February", I made a notice on the newspaper website seeking a meeting for this project, but most people in the comments aren't pleased with my plan. One doesn't realize the ability to transport railcars by truck, while another questioned its vulnerability to vandalism, which is preventable. Fearing tight money and the summer heat, they're too cynical to have good faith in town! And so I removed this notice and felt sorry on myself until the convention shortly after.

My post from days ago talks about my possible current ordeal. This shouldn't be a plan that's bad as an avant-garde, millions-worth welcome center, but there will be challenges. About every person I met for real when dealing with this project likes the idea, as well as few through mentions online. I even got a teacher who would like to accomplish my goal after answering a question on my wish.

Here's the picture: We got a 300 ft railroad track under the sun, rested with garbage. Its switchstand has some tag writing years ago. It was meant to be a gift to the city after the railroad abandonment.

All I want is a helping hand to initiate the cleanup and acquisition of the railcars.
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