Model Train Engineers Need Help
As some may have already heard, overnight on Saturday, March 1, 2014, some miscreants broke into the Orange County Model Engineers (OCME) compound at Fairview Park on the east side of Placentia Avenue, committed acts of vandalism and stole aluminum rails and other items to the tune of at least $9,000 damage.
DAMAGE AND THEFT
According to reports by Diane Hill at United Neighbors and sources in the OCME, the criminals vandalized property, stole lengths of track that were stored behind a locked chain link fence and actually destroyed a signal bridge that spanned the track near the Goat Hill Junction station and stole aluminum segments of it.
WORKING TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE
Volunteers have been working tirelessly since the vandalism, inspecting and repairing as needed segments of the 5 miles of track so the facility will able to serve the public with free train rides next weekend, March 15th and 16th from 10 a.m. - 3:30 pm.
DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEER SKILLS SOUGHT
AND SHIPPING CONTAINERS, TOO
The OCME is also looking for a source of possible donations of metal shipping containers - they are used to store the trains and equipment - because some of their existing storage units are beginning to show significant rust.
The Orange County Model Engineers are in their 26th year of providing free train rides the third weekend of each month. Typically, more than 2,500 people will ride their trains on a weekend. According to information provided to me, more than 1,000,000 people have ridden the trains at Fairview Park since they were introduced.
DONATIONS TAX DEDUCTIBLE
The OCME is a 501C3 charity, so all donations are tax deductible. Checks can be made out to Orange County Model Engineers or OCME and sent to PO Box 3216, Costa Mesa, CA 92628. FOR INFO...
For more information you can contact Dixon Sheldon at dix4449@msn.com.
Labels: Diane Hill, Fairview Park, Orange County Model Engineers
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 3/09/2014 05:30:00 PM
4 Comments:
Has any of it shown up at local recyclers? Or are there enough police to do an investigation? Just a reminder, even if Costa Mesa has 99.9% law-abiding citizens, the few who have no regard for others can make things miserable. This is an opportunity for the rest of the community to step up and lend a hand.
I think Von's just donated a shipping container to the Costa Mesa Community Foundation, could have been Ralph's. Trying to hit up a Grocery chain or another big retail outfit is their best bet. They would get some press and exposure. Who doesn't love the Trains in Fairview park? Aside form those asshats that just vandalized them and a few a City a council members wanted to only extend their lease for another year.
Geoff, just to let you know, the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club is sending a check today to the OCME for $1,000. The Fish Fry is intended to help local groups, and this is one we are proud to support. We hope other service clubs, and the community step up to help as well.
Mike, that is so wonderful! This is when Costa Mesans make me proud. Thank you.
Also, I have some friends up in the desert that use those containers from the railroads for storage on their property. I'm not sure, but they are relatively inexpensive through the railroads, I think. And..they deliver them right to the door. I think they got them somewhere out of Barstow.
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