While researching depots recently, I came across a webpage that has some great stories from people who worked on the railroad back in the early days. There are also a lot of terrific vintage photos of trains, trolleys and buildings in and around the town of Arkansas City, KS.
http://www.eccchistory.org/CCRailroads.htm
The first story tells of moving a decommissioned steam locomotive to the city park, and how the neighborhood kids played on it for many years. How times have changed! Now they'd have to keep it behind fencing to reduce vandalism, and no one would want the liability of letting kids play on it.
Ray DunakinHow times have changed! Now they'd have to keep it behind fencing to reduce vandalism, and no one would want the liability of letting kids play on it.
I was in the environs of Salem, Oregon about two months ago for a railroad convention. We visited a park where there was an old 2-8-2 logging engine. Kids were all over it. And no fence.
Maybe the problem is only in certain areas.
Ed