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Fostoria Railfan ParkThe Fostoria Railfan Park is moving forward under the auspices of the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society (FRPS). The Fostoria Iron Triangle Visitors' Center has received a $815,760 Federal "transportation enhancement" funds grant to help convert an abandoned factory site into a park where train enthusiasts can watch the 100+ which pass through Fostoria on an average day. In Sept., 2007, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced the grant, the second-largest of 13 awards, exceeding $7.3 million statewide, in the 2010-2011 budget cycle. The city must provide 20% percent of the project's cost, or about $204,000, to match the entire grant. This gives Fostoria a green light to plan for a viewing
platform, restrooms, parking lots, and landscaping on the five-acre site on Fostoria previously received, and has partially spent, a $300,000 federal grant to clean up old industrial sites and to pay for clearing the former factory site. The remains of the factory complex will be leveled by year's end. [Adapted from the Toledo Blade, 9/12/07] FRPS is a not-for-profit organization which was
The park site -- for those of you who know Fostoria -- is the land which until last year was occupied by the "Boneyard" junkyard and former slaughterhouse on Columbus Street just northwest of CSX's busy F Tower where all of the action at the diamonds can be clearly seen and photographed. On June 30, 2006, the city acquired the junkyard land by eminent
domain paid for by a revolving loan from the
The junkyard site is cleared; all of the scrapped vehicles and other junk are gone. The adjacent abandoned slaughterhouse will be demolished and removed during 2008. The EPA-required "brownfield" work, including soil testing, is underway, and site leveling and preparation will begin as soon as the slaughterhouse and fence are gone. The Fostoria Rail Preservation Society hopes to have a leveled, gravel parking area, security lighting, and portable "facilities" (much to be welcomed!) in operation during the Summer of 2008. This will be a welcome addition to this popular trainwatching side while planning for the next phases is under way. The old slaughterhouse currently carries this sign proclaiming that it is the
site of the planned "Fostoria Iron Triangle Rail Park,"
In addition to the park site, the Society has been given the ex-New York
And the City of Fostoria is seeking to acquire the former New York Central tower at Jackson St. -- the location of the first CTC machine in the U.S. -- to preserve it as part of Fostoria's rail heritage. If you're wondering about the Erie-sistable, the "grungy" fishing party boat which was a fixture at the Columbus St. diamond for 50 years, it is stored off-site. It is unknown at this time whether the Erie-sistable's owner will allow it to be incorporated it back into the park. For additional details about the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society, please log onto Fostoria Iron Triangle. You also can contact them by regular mail at P.O. Box 421, Fostoria, OH 44830. The Society offers eight levels of membership ranging from $10.00 to $1,500.00, and these memberships may be tax deductible because FRPS is a "501(c)3" not-for-profit corporation. (Please check with your tax advisor about deductibility.) Just print out this page and send it with your dues check payable to the Fostoria Rail Preservation Society to P.O. Box 421, Fostoria,. OH 44830. (As a 501(c)3 non-profit, your dues and contributions to the society may be tax deductible.) Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________ Zip Code: ________ Country: _____________________ Phone: _______________________ E-mail: _______________________ Member Name(s): __________________ _________________________ ____________________ __________________________ ____________________ _________________________ ___ "Pullman Porter". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 10.00 ___ "Maintenance of Way". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 20.00 ___ "Clerk" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 50.00 ___ "Signalman". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$100.00-249.00 ___ "Operator" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250.00-499.00 ___ "Brakeman". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500.00-999.00 ___ "Engineer". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000.00-1,499.00 ___ "Conductor" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,500.00 and up.
TOTAL SUBMITTED . . . . . . . . . . . . .$_________ |
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Columbus Ave. bounded by the CSX (ex-B&O and ex-C&O) and NS (ex-NKP)
railroad lines which intersect in the city.
formed
to build the park in Fostoria's "Iron Triangle" -- the junction of two CSX lines (ex-B&O
east-west and ex-C&O north-south) and the NS (former NKP) east-west line.
Fostoria
Community Development Corp.
and
a facility very much welcomed (!) by all railfans at Fostoria -- a "porta
potty" -- has been installed in the parking area on Columbus St. where the
Erie-sistable used to sit. Thank you!
Central
passenger station, currently in the former Gray Printing Co. parking lot and
needing some restoration work -- the building is in better shape than it looks,
so restoration will be reasonably easy to do. The station will be moved to the railfan park
when it is built.