Santa Fe No. 940

City Council to Hear Locomotive Plans

By E-E Staff Report
Saturday, October 17, 2009 10:31 PM CDT

The Bartlesville City Council is expected to hear a presentation and consider a resolution related to the AT&SF Steam Locomotive No. 940 - located at Johnstone Park - during a meeting Monday.

The presentation will focus on final plans and timeline for the relocation, preservation and enhancement of the locomotive to the Santa Fe Depot.

According to a memo from the Discovery 1 Park Project Team to the City Council and City Manager Ed Gordon, the "quiet phase" of a fundraising campaign for the relocation, preservation and enhanced display of the rare 106-year-old locomotive "has been successful."" A plan and tentative timeline for moving the locomotive to a new home at the Santa Fe Depot has been completed.

The memo states that the goal is to set the locomotive on a new railway bed on or before Dec. 17.

The plan comes after the city was ordered to remedy the locomotive's issue with asbestos in 1991. At that time, the city struggled with funding a remedy and declined an offer to donate the locomotive to a museum. They were advised by railroad preservationists to move the locomotive away from future flooding and it was suggested it be moved to the depot.

In 1993, the city included funding for asbestos removal in a bond issue. Costs totaled $45,000.

Since 2005, the "Discovery 1 Park Where Oklahoma Oil Began!" campaign has raised $700,000 for the working oil rig replica - which was dedicated in 2008. In order to continue fundraising and planning for the Discovery 1 Park Visitor Center - to be located where the locomotive currently sits - the project team has taken on the additional task of planning and fundraising for the locomotive's relocation and preservation.

The council is expected to consider an amendment to a resolution relating to the Santa Fe Locomotive 940 Preservation Fund to broaden the scope of the permitted uses of the fund.

According to the resolution, the fund would "receive and disburse funds for the purposes of repairing, rehabilitating, maintaining and restoring Santa Fe Locomotive No. 940" and for the purposes associated with displaying the locomotive.

Monday's meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 S. Johnstone Ave. The public is invited to attend.

Other items on the agenda include:

• Discussion and possible action to award a bid for Sooner Park drainage improvements.
• Receipt of bids for the purchase of $3 million General Obligation Bonds.
• Discussion and possible action on a request for additional funding to complete upgrades to the planned improvements at the Hulah Raw Water Pump Station.