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San Dimas council weighs future of historic rail signal after caboose becomes unavailable
Summary
Staff told council that a resident-led project to refurbish a historic cantilever signal and a donated caboose has stalled: the caboose is no longer available, roughly $1,600 has been raised toward an original $50,000 goal (staff now estimate $80,000), and council asked the project lead to return with more information and a short fundraising timeline.
City staff updated the council on a volunteer-led proposal to restore and display a historic Santa Fe cantilever railroad signal and a donated caboose at the San Dimas Railroad Museum.
“Paul is a rail enthusiast. He also happens to be a civil engineer,” Scott Wasserman, director of parks and recreation, said. He described the original proposal (presented in April 2021) under which the resident, identified to staff as Paul La Sierra, would raise funds and volunteer labor to renovate the cantilever and caboose at no cost to the city. The original project was budgeted at $50,000 with a projected completion in 2022, but staff said the caboose is now unavailable and fundraising has produced a little over $1,600 to date.
Wasserman said Mr. La Sierra offered a scaled-down alternative that would renovate only the signal for display at eye level for about $5,000, though staff noted public-works estimates now place a full restoration nearer to $80,000 because of rising costs. Council members said they prefer preserving the full cantilever if feasible, questioned whether railroads or rail societies had been contacted for assistance, and asked whether the pieces actually came from San Dimas (staff said the equipment had been displayed in Glendora).
Several council members said they would like Mr. La Sierra to appear at a future meeting and requested a short deadline for follow-up — two weeks to 30 days were discussed — so the council can determine whether to continue supporting the original plan, accept a scaled-down display, or release the pieces to another city that can preserve them.
Historical society representatives said the nonprofit acted as a fundraising catalyst but that promised pledges and support have not materialized. Staff will contact Mr. La Sierra and return with additional details requested by council, including the caboose’s disposition, more precise cost estimates, and any outreach to rail stakeholders.
