PORT ANGELES — An effort to restore a historic landmark is taking a big step forward this weekend.
The restoration phase of the #4 Locomotive Project will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday at the corner of East Lauridsen Boulevard and South Chase Street, across from the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
“We’re going to have a couple of people speak real briefly on the history of the project and where we’re going with the future of it,” committee member Scott Golding said. “And then we’ll have the ceremonial groundbreaking with shovels in the dirt.”
The fence around the locomotive will be down so people can approach it for a better look and to take photos, he said. Restore the 4! group members will be present at the ceremony to answer questions.
“Visitors will also find information displays and graphics showing what’s coming next,” according to a press release from the city of Port Angeles.
There also will be a working model steam locomotive on the tracks, Golding said.
The effort to restore the locomotive began in 2022, Golding said, when he was working on a centennial history project for Rayonier, his employer. The company was founded in 1926.
Golding asked the city about the locomotive and spoke with Parks & Recreation Director Corey Delikat.
From that conversation, Restore the 4! began. It’s a partnership between the city of Port Angeles, North Olympic Peninsula Railroaders, Rayonier Inc. and Golding, he said. Steve Zenovic from the Nor’Wester Rotary Club of Port Angeles has joined the group as the project manager.
“The locomotive has been on display for 65 years, and it’s been 40 years since it has been painted,” Golding said. “It’s just kind of a rusty mess.”
The group completed asbestos removal in December 2023 and is now ready to move on to the restoration phase of the project with fundraising at 80 percent of the goal. According to restorethe4.org, $186.092.18 of a $250,000 goal has been raised.
“With that, we feel like we can get started,” Golding said. “A lot of these things will take a lot of time so we can finish the fundraising while we’re in motion. We’re on track to meet the fundraising goal in summer 2026.”
Alongside the restoration, including rust removal and metal repair, the group will construct a shelter to cover the locomotive, which is what they will break ground for on Sunday.
“As we are applying the concrete for the viewing platform, we will also do the handicap-accessible sidewalks up to the locomotive from Lauridsen and Chase and then also down to 13th Street,” Golding said.
The group also is working to bring in interpretive elements for a future park.
“The original concept of this project was just to restore the locomotive and put the cover over the top, and we are trying to do more than that,” Golding said. “We want it to be a focal point for timber heritage. Timber is what brought people to the area 100 years ago, and there really isn’t a great timber heritage spot east of Forks, so we’re trying to turn it into that spot to honor everybody that essentially built Clallam County.”
The locomotive was built in 1924 by Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Ore., according to restorethe4.org.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
