Now, this is what we call hands-on restoration. According to this story in the Mohave Daily News, artist and sculptor Dan Lutzick has been hired as project manager for the restoration of El Garces, a former Harvey House, in Needles, Calif. And he's not just dropping by the site every week or so: In April, … Continue reading Project manager moves onto El Garces site
Category: Railroad
Route 66 and the rails
Elrond Lawrence sees the parallel to the railroads and Route 66. That's why a book he's writing, "Route 66 Railway," is being published by the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation. A story in The Salinas Californian delves into how Lawrence became fascinated with the Mother Road and the rails. The Web site for Lawrence's book … Continue reading Route 66 and the rails
Needles hopes for more rail tourism
The Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., hopes that its future includes more railroad tourists after its historic Harvey House, El Garces, is restored by a team that refurbished another Harvey House in Winslow, Ariz., reports the Reuters wire service. A number of towns like Needles, which based much of its business on Route 66 … Continue reading Needles hopes for more rail tourism
Historic depot may be moved near Route 66
There's a railroad depot in the Route 66 town of Braidwood, Ill., that dates to at least 1867. It's speculated that the train that carried the body of Abraham Lincoln went by on its way to Lincoln's burial in Springfield. The city of Braidwood has taken over ownership of the depot from Berkot's Foods with … Continue reading Historic depot may be moved near Route 66
Arson damages Winslow railroad bridge
At least one local teen has 'fessed up to starting a fire that damaged a BNSF railroad bridge just east of La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., reports the Winslow Daily Mail. Repair workers had the bridge shored up enough that train traffic resumed within a day.
Restoration of Needles hotel begins
The long-closed El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., built in 1908 and one of the last surviving railroad Harvey Houses, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its rehabilitation, reported the Mohave Daily News. According to the article: Plans call for El Garces to include a state of California Needles Visitor Center, an inter-modal transit center, … Continue reading Restoration of Needles hotel begins
A tourism train in the Mojave?
It certainly looks like a bunch of folks are considering it, according to the San Bernardino County Sun. And one of the stops would be historic Harvey House in Barstow, Calif., which now houses the Route 66 Mother Road Museum. Taking a page from the Grand Canyon Railway in Arizona, the tourism train would run … Continue reading A tourism train in the Mojave?
Grand Canyon Railway buyout is accepted
It took longer than expected, but a buyout offer by Xanterra Parks and Resorts for the Grand Canyon Railway based in the Route 66 town of Williams, Ariz., was accepted in late January, according to a news item in Arizona Republic. The sale of the railway from longtime owners Max and Thelma Biegert had been … Continue reading Grand Canyon Railway buyout is accepted
A death in the family
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today tells the tragic story George F. "Fred" Kiesel. Kiesel lived in one of the rooms at the Wayside Motel, one of the few surviving vintage motels along old Route 66 in the suburb of Marlborough. The Wayside is across the road from the famed Coral Court Motel, which was torn … Continue reading A death in the family
A visit to the Museum of Transportation
Elisa Crouch, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Along for the Ride columnist, recently paid a visit to the Museum of Transportation in west St. Louis County, Mo. It's a cool museum -- lots of displays of trains and antique cars. But Route 66 fans will like it because of this display: There were many other interesting … Continue reading A visit to the Museum of Transportation