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Friends of the Historic Kingsburg Depot raise funds, lay track to bring locomotive and exhibits to Kingsburg
Summary
At the April 16 Kingsburg City Council meeting, the Friends of the Historic Kingsburg Depot described plans to move a historic locomotive to Kingsburg, reporting about $190,000 raised, 250 feet of volunteer-laid track installed and a target move before the Swedish Festival in mid-May.
Friends of the Historic Kingsburg Depot president and former Mayor Michelle Robyn told the Kingsburg City Council on April 16 that the nonprofit has raised roughly $190,000 to relocate a historic locomotive to Kingsburg and has begun on-site work, including installing about 250 feet of new track by hand.
Robyn said the project will expand the depot museum’s educational programming and expects the locomotive to be in place before the city’s Swedish Festival. She described months of volunteer work and coordination with other agencies as the group prepares to move and restore the engine and to add cars over time.
The presentation explained why the locomotive matters locally: the depot and its equipment are used for school tours and demonstrations about railroad and agricultural history, and the group expects the exhibit to draw out-of-town railroad enthusiasts. Robyn said the Friends have built a “line shack” and grown membership to about 82 volunteers. Major local donors named during the presentation included the Kingsburg Lions Club and Supervisor Buddy Mendez; Robyn said the community gave about $40,000 within 24 hours after the relocation was announced. She also said volunteers have hand-laid 250 feet of track and that the group hopes to add additional cars later.
Robyn described prior outreach to the City of Fresno and said the locomotive was formally awarded to the Friends via a unanimous Fresno council vote on Sept. 29, 2022. Moving the locomotive will require coordination with the City of Fresno, Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol, and Robyn said the group is aiming for an early-May move to have the locomotive in place by the Swedish Festival. She asked residents to visit Kingsburgdepot.org, which contains a QR code to donate.
Council members thanked the volunteers and asked staff about sharing donation information in the city newsletter. No formal council action was required or taken on the presentation.
Provenance: The depot presentation begins at the council meeting presentation segment starting at about 13:30 into the transcript (Michelle Robyn introduction) and concludes with Robyn’s remarks and council comment near 24:47.
