Hello to Fostoria Railfans

Update on what has, is and will be happening in Fostoria and our Iron Triangle.

What has been happening is the trains are still traveling in and around always covering at least one of the three Iron Triangles.  As rail traffic is down in numbers, we can still assume there is approximately 95-100 train movements a day in and around the Fostoria Rail Park.

Tuesday, February 28, N/S moved a rail section to a location east of Fostoria.  Wish I had my camera with me, it was in my truck, and did not have time to run and retrieve it.  

Months ago the Ringling Brothers circus train traveled by the rail park on S/B CSX (C&O.   Don't remember if it was the blue one or the red one.   Had talked to Bob Lorenz, Fremont about the train and he said his grandson had photographed the same train running through Fremont on the N/S (NKP) line.   Just read Trains Magazine article online regarding the circus train and their scheduled route for the last time.  Sad, another part of railroading will be history, truly !

As expected, there have been railfans at the Fostoria Rail Park every day.  Some days have far more tourists than others but with the rather warmer February temperatures, railfanning was a bit easier to handle.  One thing we seem to always have is a breeze, sometimes more breezy than necessary.  We have no control over the trains or the weather.  Just come and sit in a railfans paradise and view the scenery, trains, trains and more trains.

FRPS is always trying to update the railpark to improve the railfans stay.  More trash cans and recycling containers have been placed on the platform.  The new sidewalks and concrete pads for the two new picnic tables that were installed over the summer have been used.  Railfans used the picnic tables even in February.  

Many of you will notice some beautiful flowering trees were replaced at the rail park.  Dr. Gregory & Jody Hensley purchased the dogwood and crabapple trees.  Hopefully, you will appreciate the beauty of the trees when visiting the rail park.  Trees are necessary for shade and helping to keep the air cleaner.  

Have you noticed the track panel at the rail park?  It is the first step towards moving the B&O caboose FRPS purchased to have a final resting place at the park.  It seems we have snags on this project.  The moving company hired to move the caboose would like to have frozen ground or dry ground for the moving.  The present location of the caboose cannot be ruined with a 30 ton caboose digging trenches into the soil.  Mother Nature has not helped this winter.  Who knew we would not have frozen, really frozen ground.  When will we move the caboose, when the moving can be done without ruining either the present location or the rail park grounds.   One way you can help our Caboose fund is to donate via cash, check or money order.   Upon moving, building a deck and ramp to enter the caboose will require more money than we have.  We are estimating $20,000. at least.  ANY donations will be appreciated.  A fund has already been started.  

We are still working on WiFi and webcams.  Until the internet provider installs lines up to the park, we at their mercy.  No cable lines, no WiFi and webcams.  Sorry, we have no control over this.  You can be assured we will advise everyone as soon as the setup is completed!  We might have a party at the railpark, who knows!

Foundation work on the LE&W Depot was completed in the fall, 2016.  The west end foundation was in dire need of being rebuilt.  You would need repaired too if you were built in 1878.  

Our 10th Santa at the Depot was held at the LE&W Depot from Thanksgiving to  Christmas.  We had 275+ volunteer hours spent on decorating the depot and the 70+ trees inside and outside the depot.  Twenty-nine trees were six-feet and taller in the building.  We utilized LED lights as much as possible and cut our electrical bill extensively.  LED lights are also more brilliant than regular lighting. 

We are already planning for 2017 Santa at the Depot.  New decorations are always on our minds but do keep many of the favorites for visitors to see.  Toledo TV station, Channel 11, CBS, came and visited our depot.  They had our Christmas trees and decorated depot on their news programs three times.  Exciting for us and proud they enjoyed our Christmas spirit.  All our work is completed with volunteers.  

FRPS had our 2nd Santa's Wine & Cheese event in early December.   We had two events, Friday and Saturday nights.  Sitting among the Christmas decorations and enjoying wine and good food, perfect evenings.  

Coming to the present, FRPS is involved in the 10th Toledo National Train Day, May 6 at the Toledo Amtrak Station.  The event is free and the parking is free.  For more information, please visit  the National Train Day Toledo Facebook page.  As a member of the NTD committee, we are also proud to be involved in this event.  

On February 10, Sidney Ohio Mayor Mike Barhorst and six other city representatives  toured the Fostoria rail locations.  We met the group at the LE&W Depot and discussed how, why and what Fostoria has accomplished to help benefit railfans.    Having the City of Fostoria recognize how important rail tourism is to the city is the most important fact!!  We are also proud of what the city accomplished.  A million dollar park for railfans!  Not a small project to say the least.  Sidney Ohio is hoping to restore a depot.

Please mark Thursday, May 25 on your calendar.  This is the date for our 8th Railroad Employees Reunion.  We should change the title a bit as actually we would love to have railroad employees (retired also) and ANYONE interested in Fostoria history to attend.  Our speaker this year is Nick Munoz, N/S Fostoria Train Master.  The location is the Good Shepherd Nursing Home lower level, 725 Columbus Avenue.  Doors open at 5:00, dinner at 5:30 and program at 6:30.  The event is open to the public.  Dinner reservations are preferred with a cost person of $15.00.   For more information, please contact via email  ellengatrell@gmail.com or call 419-435-1781.  

Our biggest day of the year is Saturday, September 23, our 16th Fostoria Rail Festival.  Fostoria Jr./Sr. High School, 1001 Park Avenue.  If you are interested in  being a vendor, download the form HERE or from our Facebook page.  Last year we were thrilled to "toot" we had attendees from 18 states and Canada.  180+ different hometowns.  Mark your calendar.  More info to follow later.

One thing we can say is the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society AND all the railfans who visit Fostoria day in and day out are the main source of Fostoria tourism.  We can again proudly state railfans place $$$  in the hotel, restaurant and businesses of Fostoria.  Railfans come for days at a time, return often and spread the word about Fostoria and our trains.  WE love railfans and trains. 
 

Ellen

Fostoria Rail Festival is just around the corner and we hope you are attending, either as a vendor or coming to see what you can find.  We have 125+ tables sold at this time and will do our best to have a great rail festival !!!  IF you are able bodied and can help us, we need you on Friday, Sept. 26.  Will have more info later.

Fostoria Chamber Car Show, Car Swap Meet, Flea Market and food wagon vendors will be outside around the Fostoria High School.  Train rides too. Weather permitting, remote controlled airplanes. Inside our 13th rail festival will have train vendors, of course model train displays, photo contest entries,  4 NARCOA speeders, Bob Lorenz prints, photos and originals, good tasting soup, childrens corner, and the school cafeteria will have their always good food available.  The historic bus tour will be available for you to learn more about Fostoria's railroad history. 10-4, Saturday Sept. 27. See you there.  More info, look on our website or facebook pages.  

NKP 765 will be traveling westbound through Fostoria on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 at a not known time, assume after noon.  BUT do not know for sure either.  

Have you seen the October issue, Trains Magazine?  Fostoria is listed in Matt VanHattems top ten rail fan locations in North America.  Thanks Matt !!!!!!!

Also in the October issue is a feature on Sequence photos.  FRPS member John Herreshoff entered a sequence shot at Durand MI and received runner-up.  Good JOB John.  

Ellen

Hope everyone will have a great Labor Day weekend.  Assume the rail park will be filled with railfans.  This certainly has been an exciting year with so many people coming back and using the new park and commenting on how nice the park is.  Thank you city of Fostoria !!!  The license plates are from so many states too !!!

FRPS listens to railfans and had two park projects, we were asked to remove the power pole outside the fence on Columbus Avenue.  So far we know it is not a city of Fostoria pole and not a N/S pole.  Now we need to talk to AT&T so we can legally remove the pole for photo  ops.  You will notice the 3' weeds have bee mowed on the B&O nb transfer line.  Glenn Grove, John Potteiger and I were the committee.  We cut the weeds down, mowed them with a lawn mower and finally sprayed Roundup on them.  Now there is a clear view in that area.   

Saturday, September 27, 13th Fostoria Rail Festival, 10-4, 1001 Park Avenue.  Information on our website and Facebook pages.  Vendor tables are still available and at the regular price until Sept. 6, after that additional cost per table.  Many activities, rain or shine.  Bigger and better every year.  

Lost & found --- An SD car was lost at the rail park weeks ago.  IF found, please advise.  Someone left a sketch book at the rail park.  We have it if you would like it returned to you.  From the bus tour, a bag of Walnut Creek Cheese mdse. is missing.  If you have it, please advise.

Have a great weekend.  Before you know it, summer will be over.  

Ellen

Looking out my window, there is a misting of rain and welcome to our community.  Fostoria had about an inch of much needed rain.  

The August 22 bus trip to the Age of Steam Roundhouse, Dennison Depot and so much more is full BUT there can be a fill-in list in case someone cannot go.  Please call Teresa Lee at 419-435-8023.  She will give you the details.  Thanks !!!!!

Do you have photos for the Fostoria Lens-Eye View Photo Contest?  Look on our FRPS website, Fostoria Rail Park Facebook or FRPS Facebook page for more information.  Our webmaster, Walter, is doing a fine job!!!  Thanks Walter !!!!!

The 13th Fostoria Rail Festival is not too far away.  Vendor table reservation form is on our sites and can be downloaded.  We are going to have a bigger show, Chamber Car Show, Car Swap Meet, Flea Market added to the train vendors, model train displays, photo contest, soup contest, childrens play area, train rides in and out, remote controlled airplanes and speeders,  bus tour of Fostoria historic rail locations and of course good food.  Saturday, September 27, 10-4 at Fostoria HIgh School.  Location is right beside the previous event location.  We just moved to a larger venue area.  

The new Member and expired renewal membership  matching fund has topped $2,100 + !!!!!  Thanks to all who have helped!!!  Especially our friend, Walter in Illinois !!!!  Thank you for your generosity !!!!

We had a visitor from South Africa at the rail park on Saturday.  Missed talking to him but many railfans told me about him.  He was attending a wedding in Findlay and some other wedding attendees came to the park later and we did talk to them.  They were from California.  The park is amazing and it's wonderful to see the various license plates.  

This weekend is the NKP 765 open house.  Friday thru Sunday.  Please look on the Ft. Wayne RR HS web page for more info.

The NKP 765 will be traveling though Fostoria eastbound on Thursday, Sept. 4.  No exact time, be patient.  Probably late late morning or early afternoon when the 765 reaches Fostoria.

The Whistle Stop Deli, corner of S. Poplar & Lytle will be opening on Aug. 18.  This is the corner south of the railpark where the Dollar General & Family Dollar are.  Good Amish meats and cheeses, etc. close to the park.

FRPS was featured in Railpace Magazine, August issue.  Had told everyone about this in previous emails but want you to know we have additional magazines available for sale.  We will also sell Railpace monthly issues to you too.  

Just talked to the Fostoria CSX trainmaster about railfans in the Amtrak parking lot.  He does not like the tripods SO close to the tracks.  Come on guys !!!!!!!!  Listen and remember you are SO lucky to be on CSX property and you are certainly causing distress being SOOOOO close to the tracks.  Use common sense, do you want ALL railfans to be banned forever?????  You just might be the person who is the wrong person and gets everyone banned.  

Reminder, the LE&W depot, 128 W. North Street, is open on Saturdays, 1-4 from May thru September.  

Have a great day !!!

Sending out an email on a cool July evening.  Who knew this would be such a comfortable summer weather-wise.  Just wonder what August and September will be like?

We've been busy this past month.  The Fostoria Area Visitors Bureau was host to two tour buses from Allen Park Michigan on July 15.  They toured the BANKquet Hall, where Dillinger's gang robbed the First National Bank; Fostoria Heritage Glass Museum, Foster Museum on Main, the Presbyterian Church and of course the LE&W depot.  Old dead Charles Foster appeared and spoke to the visitors as well as Jim Roberts as a train conductor.  A progressive luncheon was served at local restaurants and the Fostoria Community Band performed.  What a great day, thanks Pamela and all involved. 

FRPS and the Rail Park are featured in the August issue of Railpace Magazine.  We have purchased extra copies and can sell one to you at the $5.95 price.  Thanks to Mike and Ron for such a nice 4 page article.  The platform sure looks great lit up in the evening hours.  If you haven't come to our new rail park, plan a trip.  You will not be disappointed.

Let's Talk Trains, an online Blog Talk Radio, featured the Fostoria Rail Park on their Saturday,. July 26 program.  Let's Talk Trains is funded by the Amer. Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation.  Our program is 2 hours and features Allyson Murray, Fostoria Safety Service Director; Pamela Smith, Chamber & Visitors Bureau Director; Jim Roberts, FRPS exec. board member; Walter Pfefferle, FRPS webmaster and myself.  The link to this blog is on our Facebook and website pages.  

By the way, we have the Fostoria Rail Park Facebook page, FRPS Facebook page and FRPS website.  Walter is fabulous and needs to live forever.  What a great job Walter!!!!!!!! Could not do this without you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 27.  The 13th annual Fostoria Rail Festival.  More info is our website.

Attention--a weekend railfan lost a SD card at the railpark.  The initials RB is on the tiny thing and it would be great if the SD card could be found.  If so, please advise and we will forward the item to the rightful owner.  How sad to lose Fostoria train photos !!!

Memberships this year are up and we are ever grateful for ALL the new members and ALL the renewing members.  Thank you all !!!!

Ellen

It's been a while and we need to give you information on what is happening in Fostoria.  As always, IF you do not wish to receive these emails, please advise, we can take you off the list.

Top on our list is we are on a membership campaign.  Many of you are FRPS members but some are not.  We need your support to help us reach our goals.  Some FRPS members are matching $ for new members or those of you who have let your membership lapse.   Please help us if you can.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission sends out the Track Record and we had been forwarding this to our 500+ email list.  Unfortunately, we are discontinuing this practice.  You will be able to read it on our website.  Too many times, almost weekly, someone would unsubscribe directly to ORDC. 

The Fostoria rail park is a busy place.  Many more new railfans are coming to the fabulous park.  Those that have frequented Fostoria for years are also loving the park too.  Congratulate the city of Fostoria, they listened to what railfans want and have provided it for you for NO COST.  The park is open 24/7, 365.   The drinking fountain and restrooms are fully functional.  The contract between the city of Fostoria and the federal funding grant has not been fully completed.  The lawn area was reseeded recently.  Until the city has all the work completed and all bills for this contract/grant paid, nothing can be added to the property.  Therefore, no WiFi or scanner can be added as they are not part of the contract/grant.  Regarding the WiFi, we would love to have this added to the park, but with anything, there is a cost involved and FRPS needs help in funding.  You can grill at the park.  RV's are allowed at the park overnight too.  

We have a limited supply of Bob Lorenz t-shirts and are selling them at a reduced price.  Childrens and adults to XL are $9.00 with 2x-3x & 4x are $13.00.  Interested, please contact us, we'll can mail the shirts too.  Will advise shipping costs.  We do take the shirts to the rail park and you can purchase them there.

Robert Bunker, a Minnesota resident and FRPS member has donated a DVD on Fostoria.  We have this DVD on sale at train shows too.  Thank you Robert for your generous donation to our non-profit !!!

Saturday, September 27 isn't too far away.  That is the date for the 13th Fostoria Rail Festival.  Fred Fogelsinger, Michigan resident sent in his check for vendor tables at our rail festival.  Thanks Fred !!!  We have moved the rail festival to the high school, which is right beside the old location, we needed more room for vendors.   We added remote-controlled airplanes to our outside displays as well as the Fostoria Chamber car show.  Hope to see you too.

FRPS is a member of Destination Seneca County and they have a billboard on US 23 near Upper Sandusky.  Look for the billboard near the SR 53 exit.  Eddie Durnwald's railpark photo with a NS Triple Crown beside the platform is the billboard photo.  Thanks Eddie and Destination Seneca County !!!

FRPS is planning for the Owosso Michigan Steam Railroading Institute event on June 20-22.  30,000 are expected to attend and we are planning to talk to everyone and tell them about Fostoria Ohio !!!  Are you going to be there?  Stop in and see us in the big tent.

FRPS elected new board members.  Teresa Lee is the new President.  Renee Smith is 1st vice president with Herm VandeKerkhoff continuing being the VP of acquisitions.  Board members are retiring President Jim Roberts, Joe Droll, Pamela Smith, Tom Miller, and John Potteiger.  Secy-treas. is Ellen Gatrell.

The LE&W Depot will be painted this summer.  Colors selected are a medium gray with white trim.  This is close to the original colors.  We have an estimate of less than $7,000. including paint and labor.  Would you like to help with the depot painting project?  Your monetary donation would be greatly appreciated.

Michael Gossman, Railpace Magazine writer and photographer visited Fostoria and will have a Fostoria article in the August issue.  Thanks Michael !!!  

The NKP 765 will have their open house on August 16.  Here is an opportunity to see the NKP 765 up close and personal.  The 765 will be traveling through Fostoria sometime in September as they are going to Cuyahoga Valley.
 

Just a short note advising the May FRPS meeting is tonight !!!  The meeting time is 6:00 p.m.  Please plan to attend and get involved in our organization.  

The rail park is open for all.  24/7 with trains constantly passing by the rail park.  The restrooms are in perfect order.  Fostoria's Mayor Eric Keckler was asked if grills can be used at the park and he says OK !!!  We have had many new visitors and of course those who have come to Fostoria for years are excited to see the new park !!!  Enjoy the facilities.

Questions have been asked about moving the scanner.  Not yet.  If you know much about working with federal/state grants, the city is not responsible for the park yet as the paperwork and some work at the park are not complete.  Therefore, no additional items can be added to the park until all the paperwork is completed and the city has signed off with the state.  Yes, it sounds complicated but that is how it works.  Sorry.  Please enjoy visiting the park and realize what a treat it is to have a city spend this type of funding for visitors !!!!!  

FRPS is making plans to be at Owosso Michigan in mid June for the big steam event.  We hope to see lots of you there too.

Plans are being made to have the LE&W depot painted this June.  This historic depot was built in 1878 at a cost of $825.00.  My how times have changed, how far would $825.00 go to build a structure now?  How much is a shed for a lawn mower, more than that !!!!!     

Have a great day and see you soon.

Ellen 

Ellen