The rail park update --heavy
equipment was brought back to the park location on Saturday as there are
piles of dirt and stone to be moved. More work was accomplished on the
platform roof. More of the parking lot/driveway light bases have been
installed. Understand the driveways are being worked on this week. We
keep hearing October as the completion date, but have no idea which of
the 31 days will be the magic number. Definitely want to have as many
attend the ribbon-cutting, especially the media for this phenomenal
event !!!!! Not everyone can take off work that day without knowing in
advance !!!!! Have had people from all over the US wanting to be here
for the ribbon-cutting.
July 29, 2013
Hello to
all.
Want to give you the next edition of Fostoria Rail Preservation Society
info.
The LE&W depot kitchen has been repainted. FRPS member Bob Donihi
volunteered to help and the job was completed on Saturday. Makes the
kitchen look much cleaner. Now to go back and put the stove and frig.
in their proper corners. Thanks Bob !!! Next job, the office bath
needs repainted and tile replaced on the floor.
Saturday
was a drippy, rainy day and painting the kitchen was easier to do than
spraying the D&N weeds. Will work on that later today when the weedy
areas are dry. Glenn, Bob, Mr. Chapman and I cut the grass on
Thursday. The "guys" did cut down alot of the weedy area on Friday with
the D&N looking good !!! Thanks to the D&N volunteer
"maintenance/landscaping" crew. You do good work and you are
affordable !!!
The rail
park is progressing on completion but currently there is not much of a
visual change. Working on plumbing, interior work on the building
doesn't show up in the park photos. BUT, be assured the work is
continuing.
A local railfan told me within the last few weeks he saw probably 35-40
silver subway cars with red stripes head eastbound on the CSX. It would
be great to know more about this. Anyone else see the new cars??? What
is the story on them? Would be nice to tell or have a photo of them.
Thanks.
The Cafe restaurant near K-Mart was recently sold and will be going
through a remodeling process. Bev & Dale Bohring had The Cafe for 15+
years and sold the restaurant this past week. In about 6 weeks or so
the American Table Restaurant will open with Greek and American food.
We will try to keep you posted on the reopening date.
Went to
the Ohio State Fair on Sunday to work the Operation Lifesaver booth.
Have been doing this for 5+ years and really do enjoy the volunteer
work. Talked to many people!!! FRPS member and Fostoria Grants Writer
Renee Smith also "manned" the booth. Bob, Dianne & Sarah Reinhart from
Fostoria stopped by the booth. After our shift was over we went to view
the butter sculptures, which are amazing and ran into Floyd & Susan
Lawless and their daughter Linda's family, also from Fostoria and were
our neighbors when we lived on Summit Street way back in the 70's.
Seems you can't go anywhere and not run into someone you know. That's a
good thing !!!
Next year I will plan on working two shifts at the booth with Renee
working one shift and Mayor Eric Keckler working the second. Eric could
not help this year but we will work it into next years schedule
somehow.
We can truly appreciate Fostoria's "auto traffic" after being in the
I-71 Columbus traffic. Spent 20+ minutes just trying to reach I-71 from
the fair parking lot. SB I-71 traffic was a standstill for HOURS and
thank goodness we were going north !!! Heard one women say it took 2+
hours traveling from Mt. Vernon to the fair also on I-71. Got to
appreciate Fostoria as a traffic jam here is 10-15 cars at a traffic
light. Love being from a small town.
Are you interested in having an enjoyable train "Date Night"? The
Lebanon and MasonRR has a Friday night train ride to a pub for food,
drinks and fun. Look up their website
www.LebanonRR.com for more info.
FRPS is a member of ORTA, Ohio Rail Tourism Assn and we try to promote
all members activities. Ohio is a great rail tourism state but you all
know that as you come back over and over to Ohio !!!
Another week in Fostoria and more progress on the rail park!! Have a
good week !!!
Ellen
July 8, 2013
FRPS just
received a donation today. My mom just purchased a new push mower for
trimming her yard and has donated the "old" one. Mowed the area around
the D&N again today. We want to keep the area around the building mowed
up even though we do not own all of the area, most is railroad property.
Keeps the building looking better. Thanks MOM !!
Need to remind everyone that Fostoria is very unique in the many, many
railroad property locations we can be on and not get kicked off for
trespassing. The most popular approved locations are the "Amtrak"
parking lot on S. Main, and the area south of the tracks between Main &
Poplar. Areas where we need to NOT travel is the N/S right of way
especially between Main and Columbus Ave. The "road" north of the B&O
between Main and Columbus Ave. should NOT be used, that is for railroad
employees !! Remember, the driveway from Poplar St. to the rail park
will be the proper entrance and you will be able to see alot of B&O
traffic there. Being an Operation Lifesaver presenter, safety around
rail roads is very important. Use common sense and appreciate how lucky
you are to be so close to the trains and not be told to leave. The
railroads allow freedom to be on their property and can take that away
very easily too.
Something else about the NKP 765, Aug. 16-18 is the Ft. Wayne RR HS Open
House. Look on their website for more info. The open house is Free !!!
