CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The 15th St. Railway Experience Project has been awarded $618,400 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
The grant will be used to relocate and renovate three historic train cars — a historic locomotive, a business/passenger car and a caboose — to city-owned property along 15th Street as part of the project’s multi-phase, multi-year initiative. It will ensure phase one of the project comes to fruition, the organization said in a news release. The grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan.
“Cheyenne’s esteemed railroad heritage originates to our beginnings in 1867. This transportation lifeline that built Cheyenne still holds a strong place in the hearts of our residents and resonates with train enthusiasts around the world,” Mayor Patrick Collins said.
“This EDA investment in the Cheyenne Railcar Renovation Project leverages the region’s railroad heritage to diversify its local economy and spur economic development,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo said.
The three railcars to be relocated and refurbished are:
- Union Pacific Steam Locomotive 1242
- Southern Pacific Business/Passenger Car 7077
- Union Pacific 1959 Caboose 812
The project involves moving the cars from Cheyenne’s Union Pacific rail yard to 15th Street. Restoration will include exterior paint stripping, patch welding where required, and new interior and exterior paint. The caboose is 40 feet long, weighing 70,000 pounds.
