Time To Give Rail History A Place in The New Urban Downtown Mesa

At the same time that Valley Metro Light Rail is driving future growth in the Valley, one of the steam-powered "iron workhorse" engines of early economic development and growth for the City of Mesa in the 19th and early 20th centuries - Southern Pacific Railroad Engine #2355 - has been stalled for over 50 years off the tracks in an out-of-the-way place in Pioneer Park.
Dedicated efforts are now on a fast-track to move ahead with an educational and fundraising campaign http://www.saveourtrain.com/ to move SP Engine 2355 to a more prominent place in Pioneer Park to increase public participation in regenerating an historical perspective for Creative Place Making in downtown's biggest public open space:

Recreation at its best with the partnership of the City of Mesa Department of Parks & Recreation working with other public + private interests + philanthropists, some of whom wish to remain anonymous.
A group of community activists names itself  RAIL - using side-by-side images of old and new trains RAILmesa.org

Yesterday in the park a very engaged and informative Linda Abbott [seen in a Facebook image to the right] took the time for more than a few minutes to talk about the railroad's past history in Mesa that linked up supply-and-demand freight cargo markets and passenger transportation nationwide - all with an eye on the future as the Arizona Department of Transportation is proposing a big expansion of rail service in The Sun Corridor to capitalize on import/export opportunities between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and restore  passenger service linking up Tucson and Phoenix.

Here's a link to Save Our Train on Facebook >>

https://www.facebook.com/saveourtrain/

The Union Pacific Railroad runs through Mesa now - I can hear the blasting of the train horn at all hours of the day and night as it takes a turn at Center Street & Broadway.
Take a look at the snapshot on the left at the time of dedication of the steam engine in Pioneer Park more than 50 years ago - it wasn't even a park as you can see in the empty landscape visible in the historic image.

Please join the fundraising effort or spread the word
For $250 the train's move can be financed for another yard.  Donors will receive a certificate and a small plaque located on a larger, permanent plaque that will be situated next to the train itself.  School Group, Organization and Family Donations Accepted!

Contact City of Mesa Council Members [contact the City Manager too!]
Please email the City of Mesa Council Members and let them know we need their support!
Email addresses can be found on the City of Mesa site here:  www.mesaaz.gov

Take a walk + GO-AND-SEE where Engine 2355 stands today..
Kid were getting too "interactive" climbing all over it, and for safety reasons it's behind a wrought iron fence except for special events like today's.

You can help get it to its well-deserved place in Mesa's vanishing past and emerging present by donations or your skills or talents. Linda Abbott said she is gratefully amazed at the number of people stepping forward with support and helping identify and come up with solutions. They made changes and suggestions that lowered the relocation estimate from over $73,000 to about $22,000.

 

 

The Mesa Train Depot was near Rendezvous Park, now home of the Mesa Convention Center and formerly the original spring home of the Chicago Cubs. . . horse-and buggy connect with an "iron work horse" . . . These are the ways we used to get around

Gotta add one more comment and an image taken of the music performance sponsored by the City of Mesa Parks & Recreation Department - Arizona State Fiddle Champions The Langford  Brothers kicking up their heels > YEEHAW!YEEHAW!