A new contract would help replace certain parts of Poway’s beloved Midland Railroad steam locomotive, in need of repair.
On Tuesday, Poway’s City Council will discuss helping volunteers pay to replace the boiler on the the 1907 Baldwin Steam Engine, “Old Cantankerous.”
Under the agreement, the cost of the new equipment would be shared equally between the City of Poway and the volunteer Midland railroad. The cost is estimated at $360,000. The money will be loaned to the Railroad, and the organization would have 15 years to pay off the loan.
The engine was taken out of service nearly a year ago for normal maintenance and since then has not returned. Over the past few years, the boiler has been repaired several times. In June, the City Council gave its approval to solicit bids to replace the ailing boiler.
The volunteer-operated engine is owned by the City of Poway.
