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Regarding the extreme cold weather, the Rail Park has taken on a frozen issue--broken water pipes in the womens restroom.  Seems the doors do not always close tightly enough with the extreme wind and cold we have had this January.  Both restrooms will be locked until the broken water pipes can be repaired.  Sorry for the problem, but we hope this is a small problem as with the colder than usual temperatures there certainly are less people viewing trains at the rail park.  We are staying home where it is warmer until the weather breaks.

Please mark Thursday, April 17 (3rd Thursday in April) for the Fostoria Railroad Employees Reunion.  This year the event will be held at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home's lower level, 725 Columbus Avenue (SR 18 going toward Bascom/Tiffin).  Doors will open at 5, dinner at 6 and program at 7.  We are pleased to announce Kelly Lynch, Ft. Wayne RR HS (NKP 765) Communications Director will be our speaker.  Expect to hear a special announcement at this program too.  There is an elevator to the lower level for those not wanting to use steps.  More info on the program later.  

 

July 20-22 is another "Train weekend"  Owosso Michigan, Steam Railroading Institute will host Train Expo 2014.  Look on their website for more info.  www.michigansteamtrain.com

 

FRPS is on the board for the  7th Toledo National Train Day, and meetings will begin this week.  More info later.

Stay warm !!!!!

 

Ellen   

 

We had been warned this was to be a colder and snowier winter and the predictions are coming true.  There is no reason for me to leave my warm home today and it's a good time to sit in front of the computer and get more "stuff" completed here.

Looking back on the FRPS 2013 year, well, we can certainly say we had al ot going on and here is the list.

 

FEBRUARY

...Henry H. Geary Foundation/Key Bank donates $1,000.00 to FRPS.

...City of Fostoria receives 3 bids for the Fostoria rail park $1.8 million construction project.

MARCH

...Whitta Construction, Fostoria, was selected to build the Fostoria Iron Triangle Visitors Center and Viewing Park.

...Posey Excavating completed the Codding building demolition project.  Rail fans will have a better view of the area with this building gone.  This property, owned by the city of Fostoria, is directly west of the rail park.

APRIL

...Ohio Rail Tourism Assn.(ORTA) held their annual meeting at Jerry Joe Jacobson's Sugar Creek Roundhouse.  FRPS is a member of ORTA.  Amazing to walk around and see such a display of rail road history so well preserved, loved and admired.

...Whitta Construction, began the work on the new rail park.  Work should be completed by October if the weather cooperates.

...Operation Lifesaver Train (OL).  FRPS has an Operation Lifesaver presenter on our board.  FRPS invited the Fostoria Fire Dept. & Fostoria Police Dept. employees to ride the OL train with FRPS members as guests.  The trip was from Rocky River to Bellevue.

...FRPS held their 4th annual Railroad Employees Reunion at St. Wendelin Parish Life Center.  Guest Speaker was Matt VanHattem, Senior Editor, Trains Magazine.

...Charles Glover, Fostoria donated a LE&W whistle post.  FRPS will move the post to the rail park in 2014.

MAY

...National Train Day (NTD), Toledo was a successful event with over 8,000 people attending.  FRPS is on the NTD committee and had tables at the event.

...Canadian Walter Pfefferle began updating the FRPS website and opened up a FRPS Facebook page.  Walter has accomplished a great deal in a short time.  Look at our website and connect with us on Facebook.  We will keep you informed on what is happening in Fostoria and FRPS.

...C&O/NKP double diamond and B&O/C&O double diamonds are being replaced by N/S and CSX crews.  

...Ft. Wayne's NKP 765 rumbled EB through Fostoria.

...B&O RR Historical Society held a mini-convention in Fostoria.  Previous mini-con was in 2009.

...Ft. Wayne's NKP 765 rumbled WB back to Ft. Wayne through Fostoria.

...Michael Harvey, St. Mary's OH, donates a scanner for railfans use.  Scanner is setup at Davis & Newcomer Bldg. (D&N) and to be placed in rail park when platform is completed.  (This scanner will be moved in the spring when the weather is warmer.)

...Rolf Babb, Jim Hohman and Dr. Gregory Hensley donate a picnic table for rail fans use.  Picnic table is located in the D&N lawn area.

...FRPS receives $1,000.00 grant from Fostoria Eagles.  Funds will be used to upgrade the LE&W depot electric box.

JUNE

...Operation Lifesaver holds their quarterly meeting at the LE&W depot.

JULY

...City of Fostoria employees cut down the scrub trees on the Codding property line allowing more visibility for rail fans in the Iron Triangle.

AUGUST

...Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative donates $1,000.00 to FRPS for expenses to paint the LE&W depot exterior.

...Tom E. Dailey Foundation donates $2,000.00 to FRPS for the LE&W/ NKP caboose restoration project.

...Mohegan-Pequot RR Club travels to Fostoria to railfan in the Iron Triangle.

...FRPS volunteers clean up the T&OC/NYC depot and NYC Tower grounds.  They removed vegetation with the city of Fostoria employees furthering the process at the NYC Tower by removing trees in and around the tower and abandoned rail line.  

SEPTEMBER

...Ft. Wayne NKP 765 travels EB through Fostoria to Cuyahoga Valley in early September and traveled WB back to Ft. Wayne later in September.

...FRPS President Jim Roberts announces new FRPS executive board members--Tom Miller, Renee Smith, Joe Droll, Pamela Smith and John Potteiger.  These appointments were made to fill vacant seats.  Earlier this year Aaron Gonya, John Kimble and Roger Radcliff resigned.

...Fostoria Area Visitors Bureau (FAVB) & Capture 1 Studios released "The History of Fostoria, Vol 1" with an event at St. Wendelin Parish Life Center. 

...12th annual Fostoria Rail Festival held at Fost. Intermediate School (FIES). Chamber Car Show was added. Train show has grown and will be moved to the adjacent larger school building, Fostoria High School for the September 27, 2014 event.

...WBGU-TV (public TV) visits Fostoria Rail Festival and interviews Mayor Eric Keckler, FRPS Pres. Jim Roberts, Chamber of Commerce Director Pamela Smith, Fostoria Area Historical Society Pres. Leonard Skonecki (Gov. Charles Foster) and Ellen Gatrell for WBGU Scenic Stops program. Our segment will be part of the NW Ohio railroads program.
OCTOBER

...B&O RR Historical Society held their national convention in Findlay with two buses of attendees visiting the Iron Triangle.

...Rail park not quite complete.  Too much rain over the summer has caused delays.

NOVEMBER

...Fostoria native John Switzer published an article in the Columbus Dispatch on growing up in Fostoria during the steam train era.

...City of Fostoria held the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Fostoria Iron Triangle Visitors Center & Viewing Area.  Approximately 200 people were in attendance.  A reception was held at the BANKquet Hall following the ribbon-cutting.

DECEMBER

...Mayor Eric Keckler is allowing the rail park to be open 24/7.  Fostoria City Council will have an ordinance requesting the 24/7 at December council meetings.

...Fostoria Chamber held 2nd annual WhoVille on Dec. 7 along with the Fostoria Rotary Club Holiday Parade in downtown Fostoria.  Santa arrived at the LE&W depot for our 6th annual Santa at the Depot.  Chamber had events downtown and at the Fostoria Plaza.  In attendance, the Grinch!

...FRPS sponsored the 4th annual Light Up Fostoria for the Holidays contest.  Bus tours are held to view the entrants beautifully lighted lawn displays.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

...Donations were received during the 2013 year from Charley Sheets, the Clyde Lindsay family, Gerald Lee, retired B&O engineer Marie Walton, Jim Nusser, Robert Woods widow and Herm VandeKerkhoff.

...FRPS traveled through Ohio and Michigan attending many train shows.  Of course we informed railfans of what is going on in Fostoria.

...FRPS memberships are up with 160 members for 2013.  We expect those numbers to increase with the rail park opening to the public in Nov.  Are you a member?  Our membership form is on our website.  

 

Ellen

RAILPARK OPEN NOVEMBER 15th Hello to all this November evening. Great news to pass on to everyone !!!!!! The City of Fostoria will have their official ribbon-cutting at the Fostoria Rail Park on Friday, November 15, two weeks from today. The 3:00 p.m. ceremony should be completed at 3:30 with a reception immediately following at the BANKquet Hall, corner of Main & Tiffin Streets until 5:00 p.m.. Please pass this information on to everyone !!! The RailPark will be open 24/7 so railfans can enjoy it anytime they visit. The ORDC Track Record was emailed to many of you and IF you do not wish to receive it, please advise me. Please do not forward the info to ORDC, it just causes confusion. IF you do not wish to receive emails on FRPS/Fostoria updates, please also advise. This weekend is the NMRA train show at Dayton's Hara Arena. Hope to see many of you there. Great show, please plan to attend if you can. The Fostoria Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau will host their 2nd Grinch/Whoville weekend for children on Saturday, Dec. 7, 9a3p. Santa will arrive in Fostoria via the Rotary Club Holiday Parade, 11:00a.m. Santa will light up the City of Fostoria Whoville Tree and then come to the LE&W Depot to visit with local children and their families from noon-3 and 5-7. Santa needs a break to feed his reindeer from 3-5. Our 7th annual Santa at the Depot will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-7 pm and Saturdays noon-2 until December 21. Model trains will be running along with the 24+ brightly decorated Christmas trees inside and outside. Get your Christmas spirit here if you need some. This is not just for children, adults love to see the decorations too. We can provide you with a photo with Santa for a nominal price and you can take the photo home with you too. Pets are also welcome, they are part of our families too!!! LIght Up Fostoria will again be part of Fostoria's Holiday spirit on Friday & Saturday, Dec. 13 & 14. Local and area homes decorate their yards and enter the contest. Tours will be set up for you to either take in your own car or you can ride in one of the buses and have a tour guide give you information on the lovely Christmas decorations for a nominal cost. FRPS and the Fostoria Chamber/FAVB are involved in this event. Enjoy this weekend. Ellen

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