At least not without having a provision in the agreement stating that the entire asset described in the agreement reverts back to the original owners or their designee if and when any portion of the original agreement is broken.
All of you should be mad at the estate not the University. Why did the *estate NOT purchase* eternal insurance for the trains? Unless provisions were make for insurance, no institution would take that _"donation"_ if it comes with significant *FINANCIAL LIABILITY.*
@Fire Plug Are you from the _Future Crimes Investigation Bureau?_ It's wonderful you're prosecuting this heinous upcoming crime before any fluffy puppies are harmed.
As long as Cal Poly donates the land along with the equipment.... Oh wait, no, they're keeping the land, not the equipment it's meant to house. Yeah, pretty much what bureaucrats usually do...
Time for a real estate attorney to step up and take Cal Poly to task. What happened to insurance money? University's are flush with cash because so many trusting old timers thought giving them all or part of their estate was a safe and worthy cause, looks like that mind set needs to be taken to the ash pile as well.
taking the land and selling the burnt out remains goes completely against the reason they were given the land at all. They should look for other organizations willing to take the whole thing on as a going concern, land and all. If it were me, I'd see about forming a preservation society with the aim of buying all the rolling stock and land, fund raise for that. get something rolling and restore everything one thing at a time over a number of years. Seems like there's enough community backing that it could work.
Yeah.... they keep the land and the money they collected, and want someone to take the trains off their hands. Feels bad for Al Smith. They used to have a free calendar at Orchard Supply Hardware every year with trains on it. I miss that hardware store. Helpful staff. I wonder if there is any small print stating that the land and trains go together. The only reason they got the land is for the purpose of keeping those trains on it. Seems like a package deal. Excellent opportunity to restore and work on those trains for the students there. Maybe they could BnB some of the train cars.
Cal Poli has gone against the gifts purpose! It seems incredibly greedy of the Cal Poli keep the property but not the trains. A good outreach program would certainly bring in funding but it is clearly not in the personal interest of the leadership of that college. They would let a significant California Icon go to waste. It is really a pathetic excuse for a land grab.
@@ericoxner326 What else did you expect from Americans? They'd rather have the ugly, pretentious, and really useless dinosaur burners on rubber wheels.
@@vehicleandanimalcrossovers Yeah! Back in my day everyone was honorable! You young punks have no morals. When I was a kid, I walked to school uphill both ways!
What Cal Poly SHOULD have done is say "Okay, it will cost $10 million to restore this. Go ahead and start a crowdfunding campaign. We'll even help to publicize it. When you've raised half the money, let us know and we can all start to rebuild. Raise the rest and you've got a new railroad."
@@erbewayne6868 if California can afford to sink billions into a hi-speed rail system, and more billions into POC reparations, a few million is pocket-change.
@@PaulCashman but it's not necessarily that they can't/won't be able to raise a few million extra... they don't want to. Trains are viewed as a nuisance by a lot of these places, and are no longer wanted. Not to mention, they are a ton of work to maintain, as well as the tracks they run on. I'm sure they'd rather not personally dump $10 million into it, but I think they would much rather just be free from the headache that the current administration at the school inherited by the old heads, who received the donation.
Al Smith deeded the property to Cal Poly because he wanted an institution of learning to become the caretaker for the benefit and education of future generations. For Cal Poly to say this railroad doesnt fit in with it s future plans for the use of the donated property which was donated specifically to continue the man s dream of historic preservation is BEYOND ARROGANCE. This has become the hallmark of HIGHER education public education as a whole. If THIS is the kind of decisions that HIGHER LEARNING education institutions come to then maybe it is time to close the taxpayer funded universities. This is a demonstration of that argument right here. The universities ALWAYS come up with funds for NEW stadiums with the argument that the public needs to be exposed to presence of a university to keep money flowing. Now this university has just said NO WE DO NOT NEED OR WANT THAT. So, good bye Cal Poly. You do not need to be on the taxpayer dole handout system anymore. You have just demonstrated this.
Several years ago after a big Rail Fan convention in the South Bay he let the volunteers who worked on the event attend a get to together there and ride the trains. It was wonderful. It is a painful waste for it to be destroyed.
I knew Al Smith. He and my dad were buddies. I used to ride on the railway when I was young. Knowing Al, you wouldn't want to piss him off, and I'm pretty sure this would really piss him off.
This is absolutely heartbreaking, hearing what's happening also infuriates me. I hope beyond hope that the locomotives are saved, cause that is historical.
This would have been a perfect thing for Cal Poly to use to actually teach people how to build a business from the ground up and maintain it. Pull your kids out and send them somewhere else. It's never about the humane spirit or the dreams of one man, is it? It always comes down to that God damn almighty dollar.
Hit them where it hurts. There has to be an agenda against this railroad. Everyone in the South Bay Area knows about Roaring Camp, but not Swanton for some reason.
What's *_"disgusting"_* is that you want to take money from housing low-income University students and redirect those funds to restore damaged trains. Or maybe I misunderstood your statement and there's *FREE MONEY* somewhere you want to give to the restoration effort.
@@DemPilafian More likely they'll spend all the money on yet more woke indoctrination programs. I'm sure their cronies in Antifa will get to use it for their own criminal ends.
I didn't realize this collection had been damaged. That's incredibly tragic, these little engines and cars are pretty famous. I see a great opportunity to crowd fund the restoration using an online donation platform. There are many crowd funded efforts underway to rebuild, restore or even recreate locomotives from scratch. I would look to someone like the T-1 Trust group who is successfully building a PRR T-1 from original blueprints relying on a mix of volunteers, partners and sponsors using crowdsourced funds.
It’s too bad that the agreement didn’t include provisions stating that if the college stopped supporting the railroad that it and the ranch would revert beck to the family or another designated recipient.
They need a pro bono Lawyer to do some work for them to check the agreement and then form a 501(c)(3) Society to take on the restoration and the running of the site and if needed to buy the site back you could crowdfund for some of that I am sure
I’ve heard of this railroad. It’s way too important to close. It must stay alive not just for history sake, but for all memories that people have made there.
@@ryandavis7593 Scamming? How is this scamming? If it was a gift to the "public" then one must gift it to the public... not a private college. They upheld the agreement until natural disaster. They are a university... not a toy train shop. If the public cares then they can buy it. You making a fuss like they are going to destroy 4014 or something.
It’s people like you as the reason Diesels are taking over and we can’t perverse steam engines. Thomas was right you diesels are nothing but trouble. Im telling Sir topham hart 😂
If you want the University to change its mind, it's really, really simple: *Just raise $10M* I love trains, and these trains look like they were amazing. Surely there are private donors willing to fund the restoration.
The estimates are bunk, they have no interest in keeping the railroad there sadly. My donation to restore the RR will NOT go to transporting this collection out, that’s for sure.
The land and railroad were donated as a unit. This is the university off loading the responsibility while retaining the benefit. If they don't want to maintain the trains they should find someone to donate the trains AND the land to.
I don’t think so. I know there are donors willing to fund a relocation for all of them but I theorize they are gonna be in that shape for decades atleast stored in some back shop knowing how rail preservation works
@@NEPATransitnTravel If you really think the _"estimates are bunk",_ how come nobody has come up with a cheaper plan and got it funded? What is *"bunk"* is everyone wanting free money.
I was going to go to this university when I graduate from my community college and I was going to volunteer this summer to help out since I live nearby. This is disgusting wht they are doing. I have over 4k I’m the bank and as much as I would love to own one of these locomotives I have respect for what smith wants. Keep it all together and I will respect that. Do not give this university any of your money this is totally corruption.
Since you live close, maybe try starting a movement. Get Students involved, especially tye history students. Make a big fuss, keep this in the media and make bad publicity for then. I believe they had no plans on keeping them. They mention they already have a plan and that takes quite awhile to do. They were probably hoping that by now attention would he gone and they could sneak it away.
The $10 million dollar damage estimate is grossly exaggerated. An entire 150 short line railroad in Colorado was just purchased for $10 million dollars last month (San Luis & Rio Grande).
If all of their engines look like this, then my gut feeling is it's not enough. This is unrestorable. At that size you're building a steam locomotive, not a model engine, and scratch building one those is easily a high six figure tab, if not more than one million.
@@schwarzermoritz Do you work for Cal Poly. The people of the State of California don't need those dirtbags misusing State Funds and screwing over their donors. I'd like to hear that Cal Poly is closing down.
@@schwarzermoritz but volunteer labor means we only have to pay for parts, tooling and small sum for overhead and legal consideration. As soon as this equipment is in safe hands, I want to give days of my time to restoration efforts. I have light experience working with metal and I’m sure I can add value to the project.
@@schwarzermoritz Locomotives have been rebuilt after being in fires before, I wouldn’t say it is quiet irreparable yet. I would want to see a metallurgy test to say for sure before jumping to conclusions.
@@TailsFan369no2it's not a matter of boycotting them but being smart if Al had known the low character of the current administration he would have never given them the culmination of his achievements.
@@schwarzermoritz They aren't keen to fund research unless it directly benefits the University. But sporting facilities and stadiums? Sure, not a second thought, because those bring in tons of cash and publicity even if they don't in any way support the University's stated mission. They do support the University's actual mission though, which is to make a lot of money.
Very sad. They should have to give up the land if they’re giving up the railroad. It seems like that was all part of the deal when it was donated as one unit it should be given up as one unit.😡
i lived right down the road from Als train my wife used to clean Als cabin , and Al would not like what is happening to his railroad , it is very sad and i almost cried hearing this . there are a lot of great people that worked on that railroad ,i feel bad for them
the land was set aside for the railroad. If all four of the engines were burned, I’d understand closing the railroad. But one was spared because it was away for repairs when the fire happened. It’s a shame what the university is doing.
The colleges love these gifts. It gives them valuable land and in time they figure a way to disrespect the donner so they can build more on their campus to make them more money. Where are the alumni? Wanting another sports field or complex no doubt.
I hate to hear the University wants to pull the plug. I've had the joy of enjoying the railroad while visiting California. If they don't change their minds, please consider donating them to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. It's a huge railroad museum at Spencer Shops, a former Southern Railway Steam Engine Repair Depot. It houses the largest fully operational turntable in North America. Moreover, they have a large restoration shop. They would restore, take care of, and proudly exibit them.
Donating to a school is probably the worst thing that could have been done. Witness what happened to the Aeronautics Department at SJSU at the San Jose Airport. Not moved, but closed entirely.
Cal Polys Operating Fund Expenditure Budget is $149.6 million. The majority of the University's budget continues to be salary and benefit costs at almost $120 million combined, 80% of the budget. Financial Aid is the next highest budgeted cost at $11.5 million, 8% of the budget.Sep 20, 2022
The volunteers need to lawyer up and sue for the land and trains to stay together per the agreement made when they took over this man's land and railroad. It's not there land to keep if they don't keep the trains in my opinion. See how that place runs things, agree to do something then stab everyone in the back when things get hard.
If the forests had been actually managed properly by the preceding administration, perhaps these horrible California fires wouldn’t have caused so much damage. I personally feel that this should be funded by the state and government who let our beautiful forests be burned by not doing anything to prevent forest fires. Where’s Smokey the Bear now? I grew up with him telling us the importance of maintaining our forests. What happened?
How tragic ever since I was young I always loved steam locomotives it’s a shame that this historical place got the short end of the stick I hope everything goes ok in the end
This is so sad...the thought of the railroad going to the scrappers is too much to bear...even though there isn't much left, and a price tag of 10 mil is a bit much, maybe the state could step in and declare it a historic monument and help restore it. The people and knowledge are there, they just need a little financial help with the restoration.
they have a home its just the new owners don't want them anymore and ill will bet a dollar after the trains are gone they will try to sell the property because it don't fit there plan, but they have to get rid of the the railroad first.
Hopefully the volunteers have checked to see if this is a violation of the agreement between the deceased previous owner and the institution...if it is, they may have no choice but to either restore it or sell the property.
This is a violation and someone should get a hold of a copy of the deed. You may own a property but that doesn't mean that you have the right to do anything you want. If there is a deed restriction, you have to obey it.
I hope he put a clause in that says "the Railroad is the ranch. If the railroad is removed for any reason. The range defaults back to my family" Which in other words says "if you remove the railroad... the ranch is no longer their property." And the fact that you would need such a clause would just show how un-trustworthy that university is... Do not trust anyone who has an education from that University. They are teaching to breach contracts !! -- This is what I take from their actions here.
I would imagine the university already has determined that they are on good legal standing. It would also not surprise me if had such a stipulation been in the agreement that they would not have accepted the donation in the first place.
Thanks for your donation of the land,...... oh, and the railroad too.... We certainly value your land donation and look forward to making grand use of it.... oh, and the railroad too... we accept your donation of the land as it furthers our educational goals... oh, and the railroad is nice too....
My blood is *boiling* apparently bad people like that these days don’t care about traditionalism, it’s obvious. Steam locomotive preservation and operations is in fact regarded as *traditional.* I am just so frustrated right now I wish I could do something, but I feel so powerless because I have strict parents who won’t even let me leave the county or the general area. But I can try sending donations to try and help the attempt to save the railroad from greedy businesses and corporations. Why would they need to keep the land anyway? More classroom buildings, maybe, but I smell a *rat,* a pretty *big* one too.
Ironic Cal Poly says it cost "too much" considering what cal poly charges for tuition, and they receive government funding. Let's also not forget the trains and property were insured, Cal Poly is trying to take the money and run.
Sad. California isn't too interested in railroad history, as we've had many efforts put forth to save the old Santa Fe branch lines here in the central valley back in the 90's fail, and those tracks were removed and sold for scrap. Many have long forgot the contribution to valley agriculture they were a part of along the Orange Belt. There's hardly a trace of their existence now. Now, if those lines had been Southern Pacific, everyone and their dogs would have worked to preserve them. Only Orange Empire Railroad Historical Society are actively doing anything with railroad history now. But they are in Perris, California
Well, in Ulster County NY, our old chum Zuckerberg bribed the county government to tear up a tourist railroad there just so Zuck and his slimy friends could have a bike trail no one uses.
To be honest I think they are making a terrible mistake getting rid of the Railroad! It has been a part of the Generations and many people have come to provide the trains and many people have come to work on the trains at their own expense! I am a volunteer in a railway museum and I would be devastated if all my hard work would be just from the side and forgotten about just because it wasn't in the interest of the owners to keep it. Plus the backlash they're going to receive from this is going to be Titanic! and I do think some protesters should come and begin protesting against it! The college was given the land in order to safeguard the Railroad and that is the only reason they got the land. only grabbing the land and not the way around should be illegal! hack the volunteers should look over the contract and see if it's illegal to sell the locomotives and rolling stock. Plus they would also need to find a railroad in a similar gauge as the engines are. I really think people should bring this to our attention. Maybe one of the bigger railroads can help? I mean they did it for the Walt Disney Railroad so why not for this one? I mean it would give them a great PR opportunity to be the holy Angels that saved The railroad and the volunteers' hard work! and why can't they just also rebuild the railroad slowly. not restore everything at once but just enough to get public service going again and use the ticket sales in order to Rebuild the Railroad. Besides this is the hardest way to restore railway or railroad equipment. look at the talyllyn railway and ffestiniog railway They started out with nothing and had to literally rebuild their line from what they had. I definitely think the university should really consider their options. especially if they don't want the backlash from this to get out of hand. because if there's one thing we're both fans can do is make a big stink when something happens to the Railroad equipment. Plus they're too many other options they can consider that they haven't considered yet! they really need to start thinking about the money and more about their reputation! because if you don't have a good reputation they won't have enough money to keep themselves open let alone a Railroad!
Come on 🇺🇸 TOO MANY PEICES OF HISTORICAL SITES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED OR ABANDONED IN THE PAST. THIS SMITH GUY DIED GIVING UP THIS RAILROAD FOR OTHERS TO ENKOY. HE COULD HAVE BEEN GREEDY AND SOLD IT. INSTEAD HE WAS LOVING AND WANTED TO SHARE HIS LOVE AND HISTORY WITH OTHERS. YET WE GIVE MONEY TO HELP OTHER COUNTRIES. WHICH IS FINE BUT WHY CAN'T WE HELP OUR OWN ON THINGS LIKE THIS???? 205
Any chance there were any binding clauses in the donation requiring the University to maintain the railroad? I can't help but wonder if the real reason they are doing this is that that property is valuable real estate.
The question is what did the will say when the gift was made. If it indicated that this was done to insure the railroad remained while victory would not be assured the railroad society consider legal action. While courts will sometimes see such a bequest as being impossible to maintain since the group feels it could raise sufficent funds to make it feasible to rebuild it makes it likely the court might require the university to honor the bequest.
Aboutt the Swanton Pacific Ranch: is located in Santa Cruz County at the northern reaches of California's Central Coast and the Monterey Bay. The 3,200 acre property is a landscape composed of a majestic redwood forest, lush riverine ecosystems and expansive coastal grassland overlooking the bay and the Pacific Ocean. The Student Experience Living and learning on a working ranch Development of career skills Exposure to current technologies Working on diverse research projects Ranch Overview Recognized for its high biodiversity and abundant resources, this area provides a valuable opportunity to study the methods of resource conservation applied through sustainable management techniques. The ranch was donated to the College in 1993 by the late Al Smith. A Cal Poly graduate and founder of Orchard Supply Hardware, Al had specific goals, "...that Swanton Pacific Ranch be maintained as a working ranch and used exclusively for agriculture, recreational, educational purposes". This educational and research facility is owned by the Cal Poly Corporation and managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Faculty, graduate students and undergraduates actively pursue research opportunities, utilizing the forest, range, and watershed resources within the ranch. The ranch hosts a variety of functions some of which include the production of certified natural beef, "U-pick" certified organic apples, hosting of professional meetings and workshops, and courses offered by the Department of Natural Resource Management. My thoughts: It is a 3,200 acre ranch along the coast. They had insurance on the property when the fire hit. The railroad uses very little acreage of the existing ranch. If they wanted to, they could run the trains around the ranch property for transportation to different areas of the ranch during different times of the year when they have high attendance. They could do that or turn over the existing property the railroad is on already and donate it to a newly formed nonprofit organization and help with funding for rebuilding. Also, do additional publicity that the railroad exists and get existing donors/sponsors to the university that are railroad/train buffs to donate to rebuild the railroad instead of closing it down. They can still continue their mission with the rest of the acreage.
From the sounds of that letter it seems like the fire was the gift the university wanted to shed the railroad finally and keep the land.... sorry but you're not going to continue to Railroad which means you should have no right to the land because that was the entire reason the land was gifted to the university
Wouldn’t insurance cover this incident.? I mean for how big of a facility that railroad was/is for an institution to not have insurance on it would be absolutely stupid… yes it will take a lot of money to rebuild but the vast majority of it should be collected from insurance and there are grants for historical preservation programs which this would be… plus it is a great way to teach mechanical engineering, fluid mechanic, civil engineering. could also Start program with other trade schools to help with the rebuild and which grants could be funded for the project… I mean there’s lots of options. Sounds like Cal Poli need to get their act together.
An extremely short sighted decision... Shame on Cal Poly for its poor management. Spitting on Al Smith's generosity and a slap in the face to their volunteers who save the University MILLIONS with FREE LABOR!
As painful as it is to stay they do make a point it would be extremely difficult to restore them but at the same time it’s still pathetic. Let’s face it each passing year we care less and less about history. Let’s face it everything is forgotten about eventually.
@@1940limited In its current state unlikely. It’s most likely never gonna run again and it and its engines are most likely going to a museum as stationary exhibits.
the reason 2 years later there is little to no progress is they were denied the insurance funds and have been waiting on the green light from cal poli to start work. Cal Poli has been planning this for 2 years.
@@1940limited Completely depends on whether the integrity of the metal was compromised by the fire, because if the metal got compromised then might as well build a new locomotive
University: no we are definitely not taking advantage of the situation to rid ourselves of the responsibility of the trains while getting free land. Pffff.
I wonder who gave that figure.... Knowing what the new boilers cost that were recently installed, I find $10 million crazy. You could build it all new for $2-3 million.
So what it sounds like, they want the rebuild to happen all at one time. They would have to find patients. They would have to build it back up, brick by brick, starting small. Not taking a big bite straight out of the fire and flames. Build it back like a puzzle, "piece by piece" starting with the edges and filling in the detail. One loco restored and a few coach's with a few dinners and picnics on the land that you already own can vary well support the huge project Infront of you. You have the land and resources! try not to expect the government funds to place this park back to normal. Try to be creative! and don't loose the hope. Then one day, you might have something even better then it was before hand.
I was volunteering for the last 2 years (2015- 2017) after retired from my job. In fall of 2014, I had forced moved out of Bayarea to do high cost living at limited my retirement annuity. It's so sad it's all gone! If I win 2 billion dollars Powerball then I'll donate them immediately for hiring pay workers to restore all. A reason was they are professionals knowledgeable railroad volunteers people same as me too as didn't work for Railroad (I've obtained learning skills from RR friends for years, who used work for Southern Pacific plus, Swanton Pacific people in 2 years period too). They were kept Swanton Pacific in a great maintenance very well and tracks too, believe me! Let's pray if I win powerball! Ken
Just the usual thing for a CA thing. They take advantage of a bad situation, wait a couple years hoping the world had forgotten all about and say "yay! Free land!" In the letter it pretty much says that they had no plan on refurbishment. Because it doesn't fit "their plans for the ranch". I know there is something else very unnecessary that they could use that money for this. Wasn't there a trust or something set up that legally was supposed to protect this from the university doing this?
Cal Poly should transfer the entire ranch and equipment to a non-profit to teach post-fire habitat restoration using permaculture principles and employ hundreds of young people.
Cal Poly is toi far away to manage this, especially with UC Santa Cruz RIGHT THERE! Transfer to UCSC and use their environmental scholars to steward the ranch.
@@rossr6616 Cal Poly is a non-profit that teaches post-fire restoration. UCSC does not have an accredited forestry program, Cal Poly does. Cal Poly is doing exactly what you are describing.
so let me get this straight. They want to continue to use the land, but they don't want to hold up to the other part of the deal by keeping the railroad operational? Maybe they shouldn't be able to use the land how about donate the entire thing to a railroad museum.
Find a couple of lawyers who like this sort of work and sue the ever loving shit out of them. Whether the agreement was fully written or expressed the purpose of the donation was to keep the collection together and running. The school could be criminally negligent in failing to obtain insurance appropriate to the equipment and facillities, and an argument could be made that they are illegally benefitting from the fire. Regardless, the investiture was meant to protect the railroad and they could perhaps be held liable for failing to do so. Personally, I would just find a way to bankrupt the bastards.
When you will something like this put in a stipulation that they must gift it if they cannot continue to maintain it in the way the departed wanted it done . I am sure there are other entities that would absolutely restore this line and get it running the way it should be run .
This situation is sadly not unique, once the ownership is transferred from private hands it's use and upkeep often make selling the best option as the land/items are not the core purpose of the new owner.
Too many times I've seen heartfelt donations of historic equipment and artifacts made to public institutions only to see these items auctioned or sold off by those institutions totally disregarding what the donor wanted. Shameful.
![Would You Fall for It? [ST08]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n94-_yE4IeU/mqdefault.jpg)
This is why you do not donate your estate to an institution like this.
At least not without having a provision in the agreement stating that the entire asset described in the agreement reverts back to the original owners or their designee if and when any portion of the original agreement is broken.
Especially in California.
Absolutely, they dropped the ball. Swanton was a gem, left to "educators" to take care of...fire didn't help either. Shame all around.
All of you should be mad at the estate not the University. Why did the *estate NOT purchase* eternal insurance for the trains? Unless provisions were make for insurance, no institution would take that _"donation"_ if it comes with significant *FINANCIAL LIABILITY.*
@Fire Plug Are you from the _Future Crimes Investigation Bureau?_ It's wonderful you're prosecuting this heinous upcoming crime before any fluffy puppies are harmed.
As long as Cal Poly donates the land along with the equipment.... Oh wait, no, they're keeping the land, not the equipment it's meant to house. Yeah, pretty much what bureaucrats usually do...
They probably want to turn it into some liberal, woke indoctrination institution so they can brainwash more young people. It is CA, you know.
Bureaucrats.. UGH! I can’t stand them!
Horrid cretins.
Time for a real estate attorney to step up and take Cal Poly to task. What happened to insurance money? University's are flush with cash because so many trusting old timers thought giving them all or part of their estate was a safe and worthy cause, looks like that mind set needs to be taken to the ash pile as well.
@@zLigHt44 Their mindset is in a much different kind of pile than an "ash pile".
taking the land and selling the burnt out remains goes completely against the reason they were given the land at all. They should look for other organizations willing to take the whole thing on as a going concern, land and all.
If it were me, I'd see about forming a preservation society with the aim of buying all the rolling stock and land, fund raise for that. get something rolling and restore everything one thing at a time over a number of years. Seems like there's enough community backing that it could work.
Yeah.... they keep the land and the money they collected, and want someone to take the trains off their hands. Feels bad for Al Smith. They used to have a free calendar at Orchard Supply Hardware every year with trains on it. I miss that hardware store. Helpful staff. I wonder if there is any small print stating that the land and trains go together. The only reason they got the land is for the purpose of keeping those trains on it. Seems like a package deal. Excellent opportunity to restore and work on those trains for the students there. Maybe they could BnB some of the train cars.
which it makes the fire even more suspicious.
Cal Poli has gone against the gifts purpose! It seems incredibly greedy of the Cal Poli keep the property but not the trains.
A good outreach program would certainly bring in funding but it is clearly not in the personal interest of the leadership of that college. They would let a significant California Icon go to waste.
It is really a pathetic excuse for a land grab.
I think wokists hate steam locomotives and just love to be greedy with land grabbing. These politicians need to be held accountable!
There isn't any justice in the world anymore.
@@vehicleandanimalcrossovers I wish you were wrong.But
it looks like your right.Its all about that green paper.
@@ericoxner326 What else did you expect from Americans? They'd rather have the ugly, pretentious, and really useless dinosaur burners on rubber wheels.
@@vehicleandanimalcrossovers Yeah! Back in my day everyone was honorable! You young punks have no morals. When I was a kid, I walked to school uphill both ways!
What Cal Poly SHOULD have done is say "Okay, it will cost $10 million to restore this. Go ahead and start a crowdfunding campaign. We'll even help to publicize it. When you've raised half the money, let us know and we can all start to rebuild. Raise the rest and you've got a new railroad."
But, this is California.
@@erbewayne6868 if California can afford to sink billions into a hi-speed rail system, and more billions into POC reparations, a few million is pocket-change.
@@PaulCashman but it's not necessarily that they can't/won't be able to raise a few million extra... they don't want to. Trains are viewed as a nuisance by a lot of these places, and are no longer wanted. Not to mention, they are a ton of work to maintain, as well as the tracks they run on. I'm sure they'd rather not personally dump $10 million into it, but I think they would much rather just be free from the headache that the current administration at the school inherited by the old heads, who received the donation.
@@coalcountry6795 oh, no doubt. But the school's decision doesn't have very good optics.
I imagine tree huggers played a part in the decision too.
Al Smith deeded the property to Cal Poly because he wanted an institution of learning to become the caretaker for the benefit and education of future generations. For Cal Poly to say this railroad doesnt fit in with it s future plans for the use of the donated property which was donated specifically to continue the man s dream of historic preservation is BEYOND ARROGANCE. This has become the hallmark of HIGHER education public education as a whole. If THIS is the kind of decisions that HIGHER LEARNING education institutions come to then maybe it is time to close the taxpayer funded universities. This is a demonstration of that argument right here. The universities ALWAYS come up with funds for NEW stadiums with the argument that the public needs to be exposed to presence of a university to keep money flowing. Now this university has just said NO WE DO NOT NEED OR WANT THAT. So, good bye Cal Poly. You do not need to be on the taxpayer dole handout system anymore. You have just demonstrated this.
The ranch should be FORFEIT.
Several years ago after a big Rail Fan convention in the South Bay he let the volunteers who worked on the event attend a get to together there and ride the trains. It was wonderful.
It is a painful waste for it to be destroyed.
I knew Al Smith. He and my dad were buddies. I used to ride on the railway when I was young. Knowing Al, you wouldn't want to piss him off, and I'm pretty sure this would really piss him off.
As a Bay Area resident & Railfan, this absolutely hurts to see. I wish the best for this railroad
Then do something about it
aw gee wiz bet those wishes are reallly gonna pay off.
This is absolutely heartbreaking, hearing what's happening also infuriates me. I hope beyond hope that the locomotives are saved, cause that is historical.
This would have been a perfect thing for Cal Poly to use to actually teach people how to build a business from the ground up and maintain it.
Pull your kids out and send them somewhere else.
It's never about the humane spirit or the dreams of one man, is it?
It always comes down to that God damn almighty dollar.
I wonder if the leftwing liberal mindset of the college had something to do with this decision?
Democrats hate independent citizens. Self reliance is anti democrat and probably racist if you ask cal poly
Hit them where it hurts. There has to be an agenda against this railroad. Everyone in the South Bay Area knows about Roaring Camp, but not Swanton for some reason.
The university's actions are disgusting.
What's *_"disgusting"_* is that you want to take money from housing low-income University students and redirect those funds to restore damaged trains. Or maybe I misunderstood your statement and there's *FREE MONEY* somewhere you want to give to the restoration effort.
Maybe be the fire wasn't an accident
@@elwolf8536 The sheriff already reported that the fire was set by aliens at the behest of the Illuminati.
@@DemPilafian I knew it!
@@DemPilafian More likely they'll spend all the money on yet more woke indoctrination programs. I'm sure their cronies in Antifa will get to use it for their own criminal ends.
I didn't realize this collection had been damaged. That's incredibly tragic, these little engines and cars are pretty famous.
I see a great opportunity to crowd fund the restoration using an online donation platform. There are many crowd funded efforts underway to rebuild, restore or even recreate locomotives from scratch. I would look to someone like the T-1 Trust group who is successfully building a PRR T-1 from original blueprints relying on a mix of volunteers, partners and sponsors using crowdsourced funds.
It’s too bad that the agreement didn’t include provisions stating that if the college stopped supporting the railroad that it and the ranch would revert beck to the family or another designated recipient.
They need a pro bono Lawyer to do some work for them to check the agreement and then form a 501(c)(3) Society to take on the restoration and the running of the site and if needed to buy the site back you could crowdfund for some of that I am sure
I’ve heard of this railroad. It’s way too important to close. It must stay alive not just for history sake, but for all memories that people have made there.
Disgusting they’re being allowed to get away with this….
Get away with what?
@@ShainAndrews
Scamming the public out of a historic attraction and failing to adhere to the purpose of the gift in the first place!
@@ryandavis7593 Scamming? How is this scamming? If it was a gift to the "public" then one must gift it to the public... not a private college. They upheld the agreement until natural disaster. They are a university... not a toy train shop. If the public cares then they can buy it. You making a fuss like they are going to destroy 4014 or something.
It’s people like you as the reason Diesels are taking over and we can’t perverse steam engines. Thomas was right you diesels are nothing but trouble. Im telling Sir topham hart 😂
@@ryandavis7593 You mean like the scrapping of Enterprise in '58?
If you want the University to change its mind, it's really, really simple: *Just raise $10M*
I love trains, and these trains look like they were amazing. Surely there are private donors willing to fund the restoration.
I think we need to know where they get that 10 million number from... I work with similar equipment, and it should not cost that much....
The estimates are bunk, they have no interest in keeping the railroad there sadly. My donation to restore the RR will NOT go to transporting this collection out, that’s for sure.
The land and railroad were donated as a unit. This is the university off loading the responsibility while retaining the benefit. If they don't want to maintain the trains they should find someone to donate the trains AND the land to.
I don’t think so. I know there are donors willing to fund a relocation for all of them but I theorize they are gonna be in that shape for decades atleast stored in some back shop knowing how rail preservation works
@@NEPATransitnTravel If you really think the _"estimates are bunk",_ how come nobody has come up with a cheaper plan and got it funded? What is *"bunk"* is everyone wanting free money.
I was going to go to this university when I graduate from my community college and I was going to volunteer this summer to help out since I live nearby. This is disgusting wht they are doing. I have over 4k I’m the bank and as much as I would love to own one of these locomotives I have respect for what smith wants. Keep it all together and I will respect that. Do not give this university any of your money this is totally corruption.
Exactly! #BoycottCalPoly
@@TailsFan369no2 precisly
Since you live close, maybe try starting a movement. Get Students involved, especially tye history students. Make a big fuss, keep this in the media and make bad publicity for then. I believe they had no plans on keeping them. They mention they already have a plan and that takes quite awhile to do. They were probably hoping that by now attention would he gone and they could sneak it away.
@@glorygracek.1841 you have a good point i should see what i can do.
What's worse is the trains and property were insured, cal Poly is trying to take the money and run.
The $10 million dollar damage estimate is grossly exaggerated.
An entire 150 short line railroad in Colorado was just purchased for $10 million dollars last month (San Luis & Rio Grande).
NEVER donate ANYTHING to a college or university.
If all of their engines look like this, then my gut feeling is it's not enough. This is unrestorable. At that size you're building a steam locomotive, not a model engine, and scratch building one those is easily a high six figure tab, if not more than one million.
@@schwarzermoritz Do you work for Cal Poly. The people of the State of California don't need those dirtbags misusing State Funds and screwing over their donors. I'd like to hear that Cal Poly is closing down.
@@schwarzermoritz but volunteer labor means we only have to pay for parts, tooling and small sum for overhead and legal consideration. As soon as this equipment is in safe hands, I want to give days of my time to restoration efforts. I have light experience working with metal and I’m sure I can add value to the project.
@@schwarzermoritz Locomotives have been rebuilt after being in fires before, I wouldn’t say it is quiet irreparable yet. I would want to see a metallurgy test to say for sure before jumping to conclusions.
If you are thinking of making a donation to cal poly think again. It appears your contribution will not go where you direct it.
Exactly! #BoycottCalPoly
@@TailsFan369no2it's not a matter of boycotting them but being smart if Al had known the low character of the current administration he would have never given them the culmination of his achievements.
@@darrensaylor1416 I refuse to attend nonetheless
$10,000,000 seems a drop in the lake compared to other "projects" I've seen Universities and Colleges undertake.
😂 You've clearly never tried to get funding for a research project
They probably spend more than that on woke indoctrination training.
@@schwarzermoritz They aren't keen to fund research unless it directly benefits the University. But sporting facilities and stadiums? Sure, not a second thought, because those bring in tons of cash and publicity even if they don't in any way support the University's stated mission. They do support the University's actual mission though, which is to make a lot of money.
they need the right lawyers to tell Cal Poly they cant have the land without the railroad.
Very sad. They should have to give up the land if they’re giving up the railroad. It seems like that was all part of the deal when it was donated as one unit it should be given up as one unit.😡
Pathetic that they'd toss out the collection but keep the land.
If anyone out there has Cal Poly in their will, you had better find another beneficiary, Cal Poly can't be trusted to respect your wishes.
Exactly! #BoycottCalPoly
i lived right down the road from Als train my wife used to clean Als cabin , and Al would not like what is happening to his railroad , it is very sad and i almost cried hearing this . there are a lot of great people that worked on that railroad ,i feel bad for them
There intent sounds like it violates the will.
the land was set aside for the railroad. If all four of the engines were burned, I’d understand closing the railroad. But one was spared because it was away for repairs when the fire happened. It’s a shame what the university is doing.
The locomotives that were burned are still fixable and they have diesel locomotive to that is almost operational to.
The colleges love these gifts. It gives them valuable land and in time they figure a way to disrespect the donner so they can build more on their campus to make them more money. Where are the alumni?
Wanting another sports field or complex no doubt.
Someone please save this railroad ..dont let this dream die
This is truly a sad outcome for train enthusiasts such as myself. 😥
I hate to hear the University wants to pull the plug. I've had the joy of enjoying the railroad while visiting California. If they don't change their minds, please consider donating them to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC. It's a huge railroad museum at Spencer Shops, a former Southern Railway Steam Engine Repair Depot. It houses the largest fully operational turntable in North America. Moreover, they have a large restoration shop.
They would restore, take care of, and proudly exibit them.
Too many Chief Diversity Officers to pay
Donating to a school is probably the worst thing that could have been done. Witness what happened to the Aeronautics Department at SJSU at the San Jose Airport. Not moved, but closed entirely.
The wildfire is the worse thing it happened to it.
Cal Polys Operating Fund Expenditure Budget is $149.6 million. The majority of the University's budget continues to be salary and benefit costs at almost $120 million combined, 80% of the budget. Financial Aid is the next highest budgeted cost at $11.5 million, 8% of the budget.Sep 20, 2022
The volunteers need to lawyer up and sue for the land and trains to stay together per the agreement made when they took over this man's land and railroad. It's not there land to keep if they don't keep the trains in my opinion. See how that place runs things, agree to do something then stab everyone in the back when things get hard.
Just wait for them to spend more than $10 million on something absolutely stupid
If the forests had been actually managed properly by the preceding administration, perhaps these horrible California fires wouldn’t have caused so much damage. I personally feel that this should be funded by the state and government who let our beautiful forests be burned by not doing anything to prevent forest fires. Where’s Smokey the Bear now? I grew up with him telling us the importance of maintaining our forests. What happened?
Depending on how Al Smith's will was written, Cal Poly may not be able to do that.
Worlds shutting down one piece at a time.
Lesson learned':Don't give Cal Poly your estate to be caretaker of: Fail.
How tragic ever since I was young I always loved steam locomotives it’s a shame that this historical place got the short end of the stick I hope everything goes ok in the end
They would take it too much to rebuild but they would go after and build a roadway in a parking lot there are bunch of hypocrites
Save the Railroad for the history
This is so sad...the thought of the railroad going to the scrappers is too much to bear...even though there isn't much left, and a price tag of 10 mil is a bit much, maybe the state could step in and declare it a historic monument and help restore it. The people and knowledge are there, they just need a little financial help with the restoration.
We all must come together to find a home for these engines.
they have a home its just the new owners don't want them anymore and ill will bet a dollar after the trains are gone they will try to sell the property because it don't fit there plan, but they have to get rid of the the railroad first.
The closest shipyard as keel plates? Gotcha.
Whichever scrapyard is closest. Those aren't engines anymore, they're piles of molten and fused metal in the rough shapes of engines.
@@schwarzermoritz well, 1913 and 1914 are, but 1912 wasn't damaged at all by the fire and can likely be repaired.
Hopefully the volunteers have checked to see if this is a violation of the agreement between the deceased previous owner and the institution...if it is, they may have no choice but to either restore it or sell the property.
This is a violation and someone should get a hold of a copy of the deed. You may own a property but that doesn't mean that you have the right to do anything you want. If there is a deed restriction, you have to obey it.
I hope he put a clause in that says "the Railroad is the ranch. If the railroad is removed for any reason. The range defaults back to my family"
Which in other words says "if you remove the railroad... the ranch is no longer their property."
And the fact that you would need such a clause would just show how un-trustworthy that university is... Do not trust anyone who has an education from that University. They are teaching to breach contracts !! -- This is what I take from their actions here.
I would imagine the university already has determined that they are on good legal standing. It would also not surprise me if had such a stipulation been in the agreement that they would not have accepted the donation in the first place.
Thanks for your donation of the land,...... oh, and the railroad too.... We certainly value your land donation and look forward to making grand use of it.... oh, and the railroad too... we accept your donation of the land as it furthers our educational goals... oh, and the railroad is nice too....
My blood is *boiling* apparently bad people like that these days don’t care about traditionalism, it’s obvious. Steam locomotive preservation and operations is in fact regarded as *traditional.* I am just so frustrated right now I wish I could do something, but I feel so powerless because I have strict parents who won’t even let me leave the county or the general area. But I can try sending donations to try and help the attempt to save the railroad from greedy businesses and corporations.
Why would they need to keep the land anyway? More classroom buildings, maybe, but I smell a *rat,* a pretty *big* one too.
How about you cry after we (naval history buffs) get our most decorated carrier in the 20th century, and the HMS Warspite back, k?
When are we gonna discover a way to prevent wildfires or take control of them?
Billions for DEI and ESG. But not a penny for history.
Ironic Cal Poly says it cost "too much" considering what cal poly charges for tuition, and they receive government funding.
Let's also not forget the trains and property were insured, Cal Poly is trying to take the money and run.
Like Cal Poly doesn't have the money. Disappointing.
Sad. California isn't too interested in railroad history, as we've had many efforts put forth to save the old Santa Fe branch lines here in the central valley back in the 90's fail, and those tracks were removed and sold for scrap. Many have long forgot the contribution to valley agriculture they were a part of along the Orange Belt. There's hardly a trace of their existence now. Now, if those lines had been Southern Pacific, everyone and their dogs would have worked to preserve them. Only Orange Empire Railroad Historical Society are actively doing anything with railroad history now. But they are in Perris, California
Well, in Ulster County NY, our old chum Zuckerberg bribed the county government to tear up a tourist railroad there just so Zuck and his slimy friends could have a bike trail no one uses.
It's a same to be gifted the land and then sell the burnt out reamins for profit. All those hours to keep it going mean nothing if they give up now...
"It (the railroad) doesn't fit the strategic plan of the ranch."
I dunno man, sounds like the ranch was EXPRESSLY strategically set up for railroad.
Cal poly wants to sell the land more money.....
They will say it’s for the environment. No, it’s too destroy our history.
To be honest I think they are making a terrible mistake getting rid of the Railroad! It has been a part of the Generations and many people have come to provide the trains and many people have come to work on the trains at their own expense! I am a volunteer in a railway museum and I would be devastated if all my hard work would be just from the side and forgotten about just because it wasn't in the interest of the owners to keep it. Plus the backlash they're going to receive from this is going to be Titanic! and I do think some protesters should come and begin protesting against it! The college was given the land in order to safeguard the Railroad and that is the only reason they got the land. only grabbing the land and not the way around should be illegal! hack the volunteers should look over the contract and see if it's illegal to sell the locomotives and rolling stock. Plus they would also need to find a railroad in a similar gauge as the engines are. I really think people should bring this to our attention. Maybe one of the bigger railroads can help? I mean they did it for the Walt Disney Railroad so why not for this one? I mean it would give them a great PR opportunity to be the holy Angels that saved The railroad and the volunteers' hard work! and why can't they just also rebuild the railroad slowly. not restore everything at once but just enough to get public service going again and use the ticket sales in order to Rebuild the Railroad.
Besides this is the hardest way to restore railway or railroad equipment. look at the talyllyn railway and ffestiniog railway They started out with nothing and had to literally rebuild their line from what they had. I definitely think the university should really consider their options. especially if they don't want the backlash from this to get out of hand. because if there's one thing we're both fans can do is make a big stink when something happens to the Railroad equipment. Plus they're too many other options they can consider that they haven't considered yet!
they really need to start thinking about the money and more about their reputation! because if you don't have a good reputation they won't have enough money to keep themselves open let alone a Railroad!
Come on 🇺🇸 TOO MANY PEICES OF HISTORICAL SITES HAVE ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED OR ABANDONED IN THE PAST. THIS SMITH GUY DIED GIVING UP THIS RAILROAD FOR OTHERS TO ENKOY.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN GREEDY AND SOLD IT. INSTEAD HE WAS LOVING AND WANTED TO SHARE HIS LOVE AND HISTORY WITH OTHERS.
YET WE GIVE MONEY TO HELP OTHER COUNTRIES. WHICH IS FINE BUT WHY CAN'T WE HELP OUR OWN ON THINGS LIKE THIS????
205
Any chance there were any binding clauses in the donation requiring the University to maintain the railroad? I can't help but wonder if the real reason they are doing this is that that property is valuable real estate.
The question is what did the will say when the gift was made. If it indicated that this was done to insure the railroad remained while victory would not be assured the railroad society consider legal action. While courts will sometimes see such a bequest as being impossible to maintain since the group feels it could raise sufficent funds to make it feasible to rebuild it makes it likely the court might require the university to honor the bequest.
I'd expect nothing less from that university.
Aboutt the Swanton Pacific Ranch: is located in Santa Cruz County at the northern reaches of California's Central Coast and the Monterey Bay. The 3,200 acre property is a landscape composed of a majestic redwood forest, lush riverine ecosystems and expansive coastal grassland overlooking the bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The Student Experience
Living and learning on a working ranch
Development of career skills
Exposure to current technologies
Working on diverse research projects
Ranch Overview
Recognized for its high biodiversity and abundant resources, this area provides a valuable opportunity to study the methods of resource conservation applied through sustainable management techniques. The ranch was donated to the College in 1993 by the late Al Smith. A Cal Poly graduate and founder of Orchard Supply Hardware, Al had specific goals, "...that Swanton Pacific Ranch be maintained as a working ranch and used exclusively for agriculture, recreational, educational purposes".
This educational and research facility is owned by the Cal Poly Corporation and managed by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. Faculty, graduate students and undergraduates actively pursue research opportunities, utilizing the forest, range, and watershed resources within the ranch. The ranch hosts a variety of functions some of which include the production of certified natural beef, "U-pick" certified organic apples, hosting of professional meetings and workshops, and courses offered by the Department of Natural Resource Management.
My thoughts: It is a 3,200 acre ranch along the coast. They had insurance on the property when the fire hit. The railroad uses very little acreage of the existing ranch. If they wanted to, they could run the trains around the ranch property for transportation to different areas of the ranch during different times of the year when they have high attendance. They could do that or turn over the existing property the railroad is on already and donate it to a newly formed nonprofit organization and help with funding for rebuilding. Also, do additional publicity that the railroad exists and get existing donors/sponsors to the university that are railroad/train buffs to donate to rebuild the railroad instead of closing it down. They can still continue their mission with the rest of the acreage.
From the sounds of that letter it seems like the fire was the gift the university wanted to shed the railroad finally and keep the land.... sorry but you're not going to continue to Railroad which means you should have no right to the land because that was the entire reason the land was gifted to the university
A case could be made that Cal Poly SLO has breached the contract under which the school received this property.
Wouldn’t insurance cover this incident.? I mean for how big of a facility that railroad was/is for an institution to not have insurance on it would be absolutely stupid… yes it will take a lot of money to rebuild but the vast majority of it should be collected from insurance and there are grants for historical preservation programs which this would be… plus it is a great way to teach mechanical engineering, fluid mechanic, civil engineering. could also Start program with other trade schools to help with the rebuild and which grants could be funded for the project… I mean there’s lots of options.
Sounds like Cal Poli need to get their act together.
The letter to the volunteers says the trains, tracks, and other equipment were uninsured. The only insurance was on some of the buildings.
I hope the steam engines go to some good homes.
An extremely short sighted decision... Shame on Cal Poly for its poor management. Spitting on Al Smith's generosity and a slap in the face to their volunteers who save the University MILLIONS with FREE LABOR!
I wish I could have all of this to restore it and run it!!! It's kinda far away for me though
As painful as it is to stay they do make a point it would be extremely difficult to restore them but at the same time it’s still pathetic. Let’s face it each passing year we care less and less about history. Let’s face it everything is forgotten about eventually.
Is the equipment restorable? It looks very badly damaged.
@@1940limited In its current state unlikely. It’s most likely never gonna run again and it and its engines are most likely going to a museum as stationary exhibits.
the reason 2 years later there is little to no progress is they were denied the insurance funds and have been waiting on the green light from cal poli to start work. Cal Poli has been planning this for 2 years.
@@1940limited Completely depends on whether the integrity of the metal was compromised by the fire, because if the metal got compromised then might as well build a new locomotive
Very sad, this was a very neat setup
My... What a shame 😔
I think it terrible when they rename stuff when the next big donor comes along with a big pile of cash. Screw the last donor, they are dead.
Well then Cal Poly needs to FIND any relative of the man and GIVE THE LAND BACK to the Family!!!
They need the right layers
It sounds to me like Cal Poly reneged on the agreement of Al Smith's will. Let the court battle begin -- without the paid off judges.
"Broken up? What a shame!" x2 - Edward, Saved From Scrap
University: no we are definitely not taking advantage of the situation to rid ourselves of the responsibility of the trains while getting free land. Pffff.
I wonder who gave that figure.... Knowing what the new boilers cost that were recently installed, I find $10 million crazy. You could build it all new for $2-3 million.
No money, yet Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong is getting paid $562,264 per year (comes with a lifetime pension too).
So what it sounds like, they want the rebuild to happen all at one time. They would have to find patients. They would have to build it back up, brick by brick, starting small. Not taking a big bite straight out of the fire and flames. Build it back like a puzzle, "piece by piece" starting with the edges and filling in the detail. One loco restored and a few coach's with a few dinners and picnics on the land that you already own can vary well support the huge project Infront of you. You have the land and resources! try not to expect the government funds to place this park back to normal. Try to be creative! and don't loose the hope. Then one day, you might have something even better then it was before hand.
How very california that is.
I was volunteering for the last 2 years (2015- 2017) after retired from my job. In fall of 2014, I had forced moved out of Bayarea to do high cost living at limited my retirement annuity. It's so sad it's all gone! If I win 2 billion dollars Powerball then I'll donate them immediately for hiring pay workers to restore all. A reason was they are professionals knowledgeable railroad volunteers people same as me too as didn't work for Railroad (I've obtained learning skills from RR friends for years, who used work for Southern Pacific plus, Swanton Pacific people in 2 years period too). They were kept Swanton Pacific in a great maintenance very well and tracks too, believe me! Let's pray if I win powerball! Ken
Just the usual thing for a CA thing. They take advantage of a bad situation, wait a couple years hoping the world had forgotten all about and say "yay! Free land!" In the letter it pretty much says that they had no plan on refurbishment. Because it doesn't fit "their plans for the ranch". I know there is something else very unnecessary that they could use that money for this. Wasn't there a trust or something set up that legally was supposed to protect this from the university doing this?
Cal Poly should transfer the entire ranch and equipment to a non-profit to teach post-fire habitat restoration using permaculture principles and employ hundreds of young people.
Cal Poly is toi far away to manage this, especially with UC Santa Cruz RIGHT THERE!
Transfer to UCSC and use their environmental scholars to steward the ranch.
@@rossr6616 Cal Poly is a non-profit that teaches post-fire restoration. UCSC does not have an accredited forestry program, Cal Poly does. Cal Poly is doing exactly what you are describing.
That would be like teaching people how to do *work*. It's a university, they don't believe in work anymore.
@@rossr6616UCSC would turn it into a homeless shelter.
They are not going to get away with this!
Yes they will. Who's gonna stop them? Bigboy?
@@BattleshipOrion go drown with the Titanic
so let me get this straight. They want to continue to use the land, but they don't want to hold up to the other part of the deal by keeping the railroad operational? Maybe they shouldn't be able to use the land how about donate the entire thing to a railroad museum.
Cool your jets. The wild fire totaled everything.
I certainly hope these magnificent IronHorses won’t be scrapped
Find a couple of lawyers who like this sort of work and sue the ever loving shit out of them.
Whether the agreement was fully written or expressed the purpose of the donation was to keep the collection together and running.
The school could be criminally negligent in failing to obtain insurance appropriate to the equipment and facillities, and an argument could be made that they are illegally benefitting from the fire.
Regardless, the investiture was meant to protect the railroad and they could perhaps be held liable for failing to do so.
Personally, I would just find a way to bankrupt the bastards.
Give the land back then~ Cal Poly is stealing the land
Bruh thats so horrible :c
When you will something like this put in a stipulation that they must gift it if they cannot continue to maintain it in the way the departed wanted it done . I am sure there are other entities that would absolutely restore this line and get it running the way it should be run .
screw cal poly
This situation is sadly not unique, once the ownership is transferred from private hands it's use and upkeep often make selling the best option as the land/items are not the core purpose of the new owner.
Long story short, never donate something as iconic as this to a university, it will never last.
This is just heartbreaking. As a railfan myself, it disgusts me that a 'university' would just abandon it like that.
Heart breaking...
Too many times I've seen heartfelt donations of historic equipment and artifacts made to public institutions only to see these items auctioned or sold off by those institutions totally disregarding what the donor wanted. Shameful.
What a shame you don’t see those classic trains anymore