By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – The effort to restore the historic Rayonier Locomotive #4, which has been on permanent display along Lauridsen Boulevard in Port Angeles since 1960, is about to take a big leap forward.

There is a major fundraising campaign going on called restorethe4.org to raise the money the group will need to make it happen but, in the meantime, the City of Port Angeles has contracted with a company that is about to begin removing what remains of the hazardous asbestos insulation that wraps the locomotive’s boiler. They hope to have that part of the project completed by sometime in January.

Parks and Recreation Director Corey Delikat says the City had already set aside $50,000 in the budget for the asbestos removal, but they weren’t sure that would even come close to covering the cost.

“And we really didn’t know what the bids were going to come in at. Then it came in at fifty thousand dollars, so we thought that was a great bid. And so, we’re working through that contract. We also applied for 60,000 dollars for lodging tax money to help with this project, because we’re estimating anywhere between 100 and 200 thousand. And the group, along with our Peninsula Railroaders, they’ve already raised twenty thousand dollars. So, we’re really going to hit the fundraising this year, with hopes with the following year that we go into refurbishing it.”

The much-loved Rayonier #4 locomotive was built in 1924 by Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Oregon. She was the workhorse for Long-Bell Lumber on the peninsula until 1947, and then for Rayonier Incorporated until she was retired in 1960 and donated to the City of Port Angeles. At that time, the #4 received a full restoration and paint job, but it’s been sitting in the open since moving to Port Angeles, and time and the elements have taken their toll.

But, as Delikat explains, there is plenty of motivation in the community to get the job done.

“Two years ago we had an individual come from Rayonier who’s one of their historians, Scott Goulding, and he said, “You know, I’d really like to get this refurbished for the 100th anniversary of Rayonier in four years.” And so, there’s a great website that they’ve created. There’s merchandise that you can purchase on there. So they’re doing a great job, too. Scott lives in Florida. He’s going to be coming into town this month. So, we actually get to sit down and come up with a further plan for next year.”

The group recently released their 2.5-hour “Restore the 4” video production, featuring old film and photos donated by Rayonier, KOMO-TV in Seattle, and the Polson Museum in Hoquiam, that is now available to purchase on their website at restorethe4.org.