Latest News
Related Photos
Tools
Back on track
Work resumes on railcar restoration at visitor center
By Janet Jacobs
Daily Sun
Corsicana’s railcar, No. 305, is out in the open again, free from its tarp cover, as work resumes on the restoration project.
The car is being worked on by Patriot Construction, which put the car back on its trucks, or wheels, when it was returned from its four-year odyssey out of state.
“He (Buddy Kirk) is working on the outside to try and get it stabilized,” said Connie Standridge, city manager.
This project is included in the original cost, she said.
The next step, however, is still uncertain. The city had the money for a pavilion, and for the exterior work, but does not have all the funding for restoring the interior, Standridge said.
“We don’t have a plan for the interior yet,” she said. “We have some leads on some experts, so we’re making progress.”
The railcar once plied tracks between Corsicana and Dallas, before the construction of an Interstate highway that made private travel so easy. The Interurban No. 305 was built in 1913 by the St. Louis Car Company. It carried passengers between Corsicana and Dallas until the line closed in 1941. The car was transferred to the Waco-Dallas line until 1948, when that line was also closed, the result of a boom in personal car ownership and new highway construction. In 2002, the Interurban was rediscovered in a Granbury Mobile Home Park, where it was being used as a house. In 2003, the city signed a contract with the Edwards Railcar Company to restore it to the car’s original factory state, but that deal came off the rails around mid-2004 after the last payment had been made.
The Edwards Railcar Company was paid $153,428 out of the general fund in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, the city sold $200,000 in bonds for the pavilion for the car. Since 2005, the pavilion money has been sitting idle until last November, when the city paid $28,000 to go fetch the car from Alabama. In addition to the money spent on the railcar’s shelter, the city will spend some money on putting in a wheelchair ramp, and parking lot improvements.
Based on the current budget, the city will have about $45,000 left over from the pavilion money to spend on restoring the interior.
Last spring, the city won a $93,000 judgment against the Edwards Railcar Company, but it hasn’t recovered any of that money yet, according to Terry Jacobson, the city’s attorney.
“The owner, Steve Torrico, has dropped off the map. Edwards Railcar is no longer in business,” Jacobson said Tuesday.
The Edwards Railcar Company had the car for four years and worked on it periodically. Torrico, the company’s owner, claimed he underbid the project and didn’t have the funds to complete the promised work.
—————
Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com.
- Latest News
-
-
Deryl Dodd to play first NCYE Kickoff Concert
Deryl Dodd isn’t part of the Nashville “machine” by choice — he is a true artist, devoted to his craft, his music, and his fans.
-
‘Cavern’ disrupts water service
Corsicana city crews discovered a massive water leak under Forest Lane Friday, resulting in the loss of about one million gallons of water and shutting down water service to homes and businesses for most of the day.
-
Prescription drug trafficking on rise
The arrest of a former police officer earlier this week was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to prescription drug trafficking in Navarro County, according to narcotics officers.
-
Free first-time homebuyer seminar Saturday
A free first-time home-buyer’s seminar will open its doors at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holiday Inn Express, near the intersection of Interstate 45 and U.S. 287 in Corsicana.
-
City, county call joint meeting
The Corsicana City Council and the Navarro County Commissioners Court will meet in a special joint work session of the city and county commissioners at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Corsicana Government Center to discuss how to split costs on the shared services, such as EMS, fire fighting, animal shelter and library, as well as reimbursing the county for tax collections.
-
Mildred Elementary School registration
Mildred Elementary School will have registration for 2010-2011 kindergarten students from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9.
-
CISD special called board meeting
The Corsicana Independent School District board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. March 24 in a special called meeting for discussion with TASB consultant regarding superintendent/CEO search process in open session.
-
County to seek appraisal of property
The Navarro County commissioners are going to seek an independent appraisal of the former Griffin property co-owned by the city and county. The decision was made late Friday in a special meeting of the commissioners.
-
Business Notes
Community National Bank and Trust of Texas
The board of directors of Community National Bank and Trust of Texas has announced the promotion of four bank officers. -
Youth Expo Schedule
This year’s Navarro County Youth Exposition will be held March 22-27 at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Steak dinner tickets will be sold in advance at the Youth Expo office or on the day of the event at $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
- More Latest News Headlines
-
