Call to action: Louisiana & Arkansas 4-6-0 #503

[delamaize]

$51.3K, but now the goal is $65k?  Do they get to keep $50k if they don't reach $65k?  I have no idea how fund me works.

Jason said the other day, if they are not able to purchase 503, the money will either be refunded to the donors, or be donated to a railroad preservation group of the donor's choice.

The Scrappers put the value at $35k, so at this point, as long as the scrapper doesn't back out, I think we have saved her.

EDIT:
Looks like Jason has updated the information, and it sounds like they have a purchase agreement to sign tomorrow.

UPDATE 2/20: OUR GOAL HAS CHANGED AND DEADLINE EXTENDED! Inland Environment had inititally priced the scrap value for no. 503 at $20,000.

After performing their own appraisal, they now value the locomotive and tender at $35,000!

Broken down, our projects costs are now:

$35,000 to Inland Environment for the purchase

$10,000 to Over-the-Top Construction for trucking

$20,000 for cranes

Our deadline for raising funds is now February 28th! A purchase agreement for the locomotive will be signed on February 21st.


OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL:

We're raising $65,000 to purchase the locomotive from the city's contractor and move it to the Texas State Railroad for interim storage. The locomotive is currently slated for demolition and scrapping in the next few days! The locomotive and display site must be disposed of by March 6th, 2018.

[Chris333]

So if the is worth $35k and the scrap company already got $25k from the city. Shouldn't $10k make them happy?

[delamaize]

So if the is worth $35k and the scrap company already got $25k from the city. Shouldn't $10k make them happy?

That was my thought, But whatever. I'll feel better about it when the agreement is signed tomorrow.

I'm not anywhere even close to this locomotive, but somehow have got myself emotionally invested in this. Damn you Nick!!

[StarCruiser]

They may be looking for enough to spend more effort on restoration and giving her a good (i.e. long term) home...

[Chris333]

64k. Now. 

[delamaize]

$66,422 as of 11:00 Pacific time today. Awesome deal. Glad that another one is being saved.

[Chris333]

For anyone following this.

The city already had a contract with the scrapper. The loco belonged to the scrapper. It was under 25K so there was no public meeting. They made arrangements to buy the loco from the scrapper. The scrapper was going to cut up the locomotive 1 day after they were contacted to buy it. 5-6 days after it was supposed to be cut up (and would have been) the city is now trying to keep it. They would need to move it and fix the contaminated soil under the loco. Estimated cost around 200k. Because of the fund raiser the public found out about the story of the loco leaving the town (they didn't know beforehand).

So there is a chance the loco could stay were it is and lots of time and $$$ wasted.

[Philip H]

For anyone following this.

The city already had a contract with the scrapper. The loco belonged to the scrapper. It was under 25K so there was no public meeting. They made arrangements to buy the loco from the scrapper. The scrapper was going to cut up the locomotive 1 day after they were contacted to buy it. 5-6 days after it was supposed to be cut up (and would have been) the city is now trying to keep it. They would need to move it and fix the contaminated soil under the loco. Estimated cost around 200k. Because of the fund raiser the public found out about the story of the loco leaving the town (they didn't know beforehand).

So there is a chance the loco could stay were it is and lots of time and $$$ wasted.

Reporting overnight on both the KCS and Louisiana Railfan and Model Railroad Yahoo groups indicates the city had a public meeting late last week and voted to keep and restore with about 85 resident present. most of whom were incensed the City had ever considered moving the loco much less scrapping it.  The folks who ran the GoFundMe apparently also attended, and they stated they don't believe they rules of GoFundMe will allow them to transfer the funds to preservation in place as opposed to removal and restoration off site.  the latest on the saga can be found in the Port Arthur News link below:

http://www.panews.com/2018/03/06/council-meet-tceq-mandates-seek-new-503-funds/