Council weighs future of historic locomotive
Council weighs future of historic locomotive
Home|Feature Story, Local News, News|Council weighs future of historic locomotive
Michael Illiano The Sheridan Press | The city of Sheridan owns the historic locomotive on Broadway Street, which it acquired in 1962. City council will have to decide whether to sell it or pay to deal with the asbestos inside the engine.
SHERIDAN Sheridan City Council discussed the future of the historic locomotive across from The Historic Sheridan Inn during a study session Monday. ... The locomotive which city Public Works Director Lane Thompson said the city acquired around May 1962 has been traditionally maintained by the Sheridan Rotary Club, but the club has indicated it cannot afford to continue shouldering that responsibility. The engine contains asbestos which, because of ongoing deterioration, the city would have to pay to remove if the engine stays in place.
Thompson said city staff has explored contracting with Wasatch Railroad Contractors to help the city sell the engine, if council decides to go that route. ... John E. Rimmasch, of Wasatch, told council his company has a history identifying markets for and facilitating the sales of historical locomotives. ... Rimmasch said his company would help the city find viable buyers. Because of the logistics required to relocate historic locomotives, Rimmasch said some buyers will back out of agreements at the last minute when they realize the costs associated with acquiring the train go well beyond the sales price.
If council opts against selling the locomotive, Rimmasch said his company could also remove the asbestos from the engine. ... The process for restoring the locomotive would take several months and cost somewhere between $250,000 and $600,000, Rimmasch said. ... The city could also opt for a short-term solution, Rimmasch said, by removing some of the asbestos from the outside of the locomotive while the city decides its long- term future.
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By Michael Illiano|Jul. 9, 2019
Michael Illiano joined The Sheridan Press as a government and politics reporter in February 2018. He is originally from New Jersey and graduated from Boston University. Email him at michael.illiano@thesheridanpress.com.
The old MD 20-20. When it was in service, it was number 5631:
Pictures of CBQ 5631
In 2010, it still had its bell, headlights, and classification lights (you'll have to copy and paste the link to see the photo):
http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/58667/Day%2014%20CBQ%205631%20(1).JPG