STILL SIDETRACKED!

      SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH., 2020
           STILL SIDETRACKED!

     Some of you may remember this
blog. I originally published it on March
15th of 2016.  I've updated it just a bit.
But, sadly, my hoped for outcome
remains a dream.
     I don't like to get too serious in my

Blogs. It's too much fun making fun

of things that happen to me everyday

and making sure you're aware of

unusual holidays that are daily

excuses for silly celebrations. But

today I'm going to switch things a

bit and take a different track!

    My grandson and I paid another

visit to the Steamtown National

Historical site last week. We've been

stopping there ever other week or so

since he was two or three.

     There's an exhibit there that gets,

in my opinion, far too little attention.

       It's a small "park sized" engine

and a passenger car.

       Years ago while on the news beat

for WYOU TV I covered a story

involving a generous local man named

Hank Evanish.  Mr. Evanish, who has

since passed away, had discovered the

rusty remains of an amusement train

ride that once entertained children in

Scranton's Nay Aug Park. As I recall

it was headed for the junk yard when

Evanish bought the train, had it

restored and donated in back to the

city to once again be set up at the

park.

      I know it ran there, or at least sat

there, for a couple of years. But then

it disappeared again. I had heard a

rumor that it had been lent or given

(not such which) to Steamtown. And,

sure enough, there it sits! The

Lackawanna Railroad Diesel-looking

engine and one of the passenger cars

that carried children over those rails

in Nay Aug Park.

      First I rejoiced! So  happy to see

that train still preserved.

      But then I realized there was

something missing. There was no

plaque or information sheet to tell

visitors about the history of this little

train. Where it rolled. How it was

saved from the junk yard by an area

man who cared. Or how he hoped it

would roll again. And what better

place than Steamtown!

       Rail enthusiasts from around the

world come to this place. Why not

set up the tracks, perhaps add more,

and allow visiting children to enjoy

this historic attraction? I'd love to

see it done. How about you? At the

very least the history of this once

popular amusement park ride should

be on display!

       Perhaps some letters or calls to

Steamtown! This is the Little Engine

that should....have our support!

       Hope someone pays attention

and that all your NEWS is good!