http://www.nrhs.com/news/nrhs-announces ... -landmarks

Read and discuss.

I passed by the Gary station just a few days ago while riding the Capitol Limited. It's a shell. No windows. Must have been a nice station in its time, but it would take a lot of $$$ to do anything with it. It's so far gone! It seemed to look like it was magnificent in its day, but what special place does it hold in railroad history, I wonder, to merit inclusion in the NRHS list? I am familiar with several of the other items listed.

Not to be a contrarian, but why list the Detroit MC station? It's an ugly box from the outside albeit handsome on the main floor passenger terminal space. It's a basket case like the Gary station. The Buffalo station is much more of an architectural landmark IMHO and is probably in a better situation to be re-used or re-developed.

I suppose all such lists are subject to intense debate and personal preference. At least in my neck of the woods something has been done to a classic railroad station. St. Paul Union Depot (SPUD) has been fixed-up and will soon see Amtrak train Nos. 7 & 8 stop there on their daily travels as opposed to now when the trains merely wave to SPUD as they pass on their way to the semi-dumpy Amtrak "Midway" station serving the great Twin Cities.

Thanks!

ACL #1504 used to sit outside the CSX Corporate building, right?

Surprised the NRHS didn't put itself on the list..

What I find that is very troubling is the news about the EBT...I don't recall having heard specifics like those before...

I dont know why the Lion Gardiner was included on the list either. It has been way past saving for many years. About three years ago you could stand underneath it and stick you head thru the large hole in the floor. this is the result of a very leaky roof. Also the center beam had also rotted thru. Other than some of the stainless in the kitchen area there is almost nothing left on the inside, its been open to the weather and vandals for many years. Someone with bottomless pockets would be needed to bring this back.

I agree Buffalo CT is more worthy than any depot on the list, but after fulfilling a dream of getting up to see it this summer, it seems to be in very good hands... At least as far as stewardship and stabilization goes. If any part of BCT should be on the list it is the platforms and surviving part of the concourse which still belong to Amtrak.

If one wanted the L&N 770, they could probably talk to Town & Country Bank of Bardstown, KY which has a UCC filing on all of the assets of the Kentucky Railway Museum to cover the museum's half a million dollar debt run up to keep the place operating.

I am really happy to see there are no preservation problems west of Indiana. We must be doing a great job out here.

I'm giving National about 2 years. The next round of dues increases which was approved at the last Director's meeting will probably have a negative impact on cash flow. A number of the larger and more active Chapters are about done and ready go it on their own.

DW,
Do you think you could entice your friends at one of those large Midwestern museums to look into acquiring this loco? I'm worried about #770; it looks like it could really use a good home.

Yes, it was moved across I-95 behind the Jacksonville convention center (formerly Union Station) some time ago.

I heard dues were going up at our April chapter meeting. What I'd like to know is what is National doing to control costs? I applaud the decision to stop publishing the Annual Activities Issue but have to ask why National doesn't give members an option to receive "NRHS News" electronically, to save printing and mailing costs. Unlike the Bulletin, NRHS News has a short life.

BH

EBT did not run last year. AFAIK, nothing definite for this year.

When I saw the title of this topic, without even looking yet, I said to myself, "I'll bet there are plenty of, 'why didn't they include this, too?' messages."
Yeah, I thought that, as well.
I joined at a very young age (I earned my 25 year pin before I turned 40, which I wonder if that's a record), back when the NRHS had substantial value. They had conventions with steam trips. Chapters did tours of RR facilities. For example, my chapter in Florida did an annual visit to a local shortline and we got cab/hack rides over their entire line. To be an informed train fan, being in a group like the NRHS was really the best thing back then.
All those things are gone now, for the most part. You can blame them on a long list of varying reasons, and you'd probably be right about any or all of them. I think the NRHS didn't contribute to the demise of such benefits, but in the end a member's got to ask, "what's in it for me?"
What, indeed?
Don't give the tired old, "a group is only as good as what you put into it," shtick, the NRHS simply doesn't give the member the value it once did. Whether that's the NRHS's fault (I don't think it is)or not, isn't really the point.
Having been to (more like endured) the board of director's meeting at the Tacoma convention, I can say I don't feel hopeful for the future of the NRHS. A bunch of bitter, old (at the age of 41, I think I as the youngest one there by several years), "been there, done that" white guys arguing at a level beyond reality doesn't instill much confidence. They want to survive and prospoer. I just don't think they have a clue how to do that.
Years ago, I was so looking forward to having that 25 year pin. It was a goal I had when I was a teenager, but now it doesn't mean much. Today it's sitting in a container with my high school and college class rings and my Army dog tags. It's like the other items, a relic of a bygone time of my life. At this point, I'm still a member only because I've been one for so long that I'm not 100% sure why i still bother...