Village To Seek Grant To Restore Replica Train

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News (Oct 10, 2013) — The Frontier Village Association will approach the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation for a $5,000 grant.

The money would be earmarked to restore the Jamestown Parade Train, which was built by longtime railroad man the late James Carlascio.

The FVA approved seeking the grant on a request from Shawn Syverson, a Jamestown mechanic who has been working to restore the four-car train replica, using his own money.

Syverson proposes that the Frontier Village assume ownership of the train after he restores it, as he becomes the train’s engineer, and driver, and could train other people to drive the vehicle.

The train is actually a motor vehicle with three attached cars — a coal tender, a flatbed trailer and a caboose.

The train has fallen into disrepair after Carlascio gave the train to Bonzanaville, in in Fargo, in 1998.

FVA President Charlie Tanata said the association will submit the grant request and see what happens.