Yes, I remember that quite well. Some senior citizens got together an fought any movement of 1727 in city council meetings. I can still quote there most infamous statement, "We don't care if it rusts into the ground, it's not leaving Dunsmuir."
If I sound a little miffed, I am still!!!
I had once hoped it could be moved to the Mallet Shed for winter storage and brought out for display during the summers. Of course, that option is now gone too. . .
I can tell you quite a few interesting stories about how 1727 was picked for Dunsmuir and how it was moved to it's display location. Somewhere I have my Dad's film of it coming down Park Avenue (now Dunsmuir Ave.) on it's way to the display.
I can remember the tender was delivered first, and I think a week later, the engine. I also remember being upset because the "big kids" had busted the windows and other things--at that time we could "play" on the engine. The vandalism the first six months led to the fence being put up.