I attended a Salina, Kansas parks and recreation commission meeting yesterday where it was discussed that Union Pacific no. 477, now nicely displayed in Kenwood Park, could be sold for scrap. Union Pacific recently moved most or all operations out of Salina Union Station, built in 1916, and I spoke at the meeting the city should consider acquiring the station and move 477 to the station grounds. 477 is maintained in a state of good cosmetic maintenance. The photos on the below linked website are indicative of its current appearance. Salina Union Station sits boarded up and ready for new occupancy. Hopefully, a community center or museum. The city is also considering removing access to the locomotive cab and building a 5 foot tall fence around the 121 year old locomotive.
http://www.rgusrail.com/ksup477.html
Does Parks & Rec own the engine? Why do they want to scrap it?
Still in training.
The City of Salina owns the locomotive. Union Pacific donated it to the city in 1955 at the end of steam. The parks and recreation director cited costs of around $1000 per year to deal with vandalism. Also, there is a liability concern due to no fencing around the locomotive and people climbing on it. They are considering removing public access to the locomotive cab and placing a five foot fence around the locomotive. The scrapping option was mentioned at this week's meeting and the prior meeting of the commission. The locomotive has an excellent cosmetic appearance.
Putting it inside a museum structure would be the best option. If they don't want to build one, I'm sure an established museum/society would be happy to have ownership transferred to them to keep a magnificent artifact from going into the blast furnaces.
Same me, different spelling!
I can see the boiler rivets, so obviously the jacketing's gone and the old asbestos boiler insulation as well. At least that's one less thing to worry about.
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