The locomotive, No. 5631, was the subject of a special session of the city council on Monday night. During the meeting, city leaders met with John E. Rimmasch of Wasatch Railroad Contractors to discuss a number of options for the Northern-type locomotive. Rimmasch, who owns the Cheyenne-based company, prepared a 10-page report looking at options from doing a cosmetic restoration and keeping it to selling it to a museum.
Regardless of what decision the city makes, it is likely that asbestos that is on the locomotive will have to be removed in the near future.
The locomotive is owned by the city and has been on display in a park since 1962. The local Rotary Club maintained the locomotive in the past but recently informed the city that it did not have the resources to continue.
Rimmasch tells Trains News Wire that he has offered his services to the city should they decide to restore it or sell it. He says he has inspected the locomotive and that it is in good mechanical condition.
“It’s a beautiful locomotive,” he says. “It’s got good bones.”
