As 2006 winds down, what do you think are the most important stories/developments in railway preservation during the past year?

Here is one of my picks:
1. Publications. I'm a big book person. The availability of good quality publications on railway history gets better and better each year. Santa brought me a couple of reprints of texts on the work of a railway carman (Reviewed on this site), and the duties of a streetcar motorman. Add on top of that the seemingly improved quality of just about every historical society publication I've been able to lay my hands on, and we see a lot of good information available out there for the preservationist.

I am interested to see what others say. NKP 765 returns? How about those Chinese 2-10-2s? CA&E 308s unveiling for its 100th birthday? The relocation of Trolleyville to Cleveland? Share your thoughts and opinions.

David

You mentioned some of my personal favorites/highlights of the year, the 100th birthday unveiling of CA&E 308, and the big move of the former Trolleyville operation to Cleveland's lakefront to become the Lake Shore Electrice. 765's return is a sentimental favorite as well, a well known
performer from my youth that I look forward to seeing in operation in 2007.

I don't think the Chinese locomotives technically qualify under preservation, having said that the concept is sound and I look forward to seeing how the whole thing pans out.

The CA&E 308 birthday sort of highlights what is likely to be a continuing thread for the near term future, as 100th birthdays/anniversaries come around, this watershed mark will inspire many more efforts to preserve artifacts. As good a "kick in the pants" as anything to get things done !

I'll nominate one I was lucky enough to attend, the rededication of Hesston Steam Museum's New Mexico Lumber Co Shay locomotive. Not only a beautiful restoration and effort by this group which does not get any where near enough attention, but you also have to look at it from the proper perspective,,, this locomotive was up and running, only to be seriously damaged in a fire, and this is the second major rebuilding at Hesston.

This is as fine an example of the hard work and dogged perseverance that really defines most museum operations. Those of us who have been lucky enough to spend time getting our hands dirty know all to well that that first public trip, typically no more than 30-60 minutes in length is usually the result of years and years of hard work. And yet somehow, it all makes sense to us :-)

Perhaps the movement of "Flagg Coal" #75 to Whitewater Valley and Port Huron (and elsewhere?) for operation, was a big preservation story to me. I think that perhaps the 0-4-0T may have gone to locations back in 2005 too, but it seems that this program is expanding, and holds hope of bringing steam to other "steamless" locations in the future. The RyPN discussion of including other small locomotives in such programs down the road, was certainly heartening.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

I'm a big fan of the CA&E as well. My page on that line may be viewed at
http://www.homestaydenver.com/cae

Here is another choice: the return of C&S No. 9 to steam on home rails.
http://www.homestaydenver.com/CS9

To me, the most important development in railway preservation is the progress that several museums have made in constructing high quality buildings to house substantial parts of their collections. The Electric City Trolley Museum opened their new restoration shop and carbarn. The Western Railway Museum and the Orange Empire Railway Museum both substantially completed very large carbarn buildings, with opening expected in 2007.

Remember, the name of the game is not only to collect, but also to preserve and ultimately restore the equipment that has been collected. My congratulations to those groups that are progressing on this effort.

On a related subject, we at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum have started a project to install sprinklers in our older buildings. (Our most recent building was built with sprinklers) Design has been completed and construction is anticipated for Spring of 2007.

Your words made a great Christmas present. We printed the reprint of the "Carman" book. How did you like the job we did? We are always looking for feedback on our work and products. We do a lot of rail publications and are always looking for more. We are currently working on two more. Keep your Christmas stocking handy.

[quote="artschwartz"]To me, the most important development in railway preservation is the progress that several museums have made in constructing high quality buildings to house substantial parts of their collections. ... Remember, the name of the game is not only to collect, but also to preserve and ultimately restore the equipment that has been collected. My congratulations to those groups that are progressing on this effort.

My top three:

1. The trading of equipment between Western and Western Pacific - and the hope that this leads to more and more.

2. The covered storage.

3. The completion of the saving of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum at Campo in the black - the first year in many that we can say that. The future now looks good at Campo on the SD&A Railway. I'm also glad we found a new home for a narrow guage passenger car, and, I hope we find a good home for the C&O caboose.

National Capital Trolley Museum received $100,000 from the Maryland State Highway Administration to plan for relocating our facilities within Northwest Branch Park (see flimsies), and received an approved building permit for a new 8500 square foot display barn.

Wesley.

While it may not be the biggest news of the year the return of PRR 643 to steam is certainly worthy of a mention. Perhaps more important to the future of the 643 is the anouncement that the Grove will try to buy the land they operate on. Without the land it is doubtful the 643 will have a permanant home.

John Bohon

Jim,
What narrow gauge passenger did San Diego Ry Museum have? And its new home?

In advance, thanks.

Jim,
What narrow gauge passenger did (PSRM) have? And its new home?

It was a detrucked wooden business car, and it went to Oregon.

Oh, that car -- the car from up in Utah that went to the Sumpter Valley organization.

There's lots of things we've seen.

Western Maryland Scenic, that appeared to be headed for severe cutback, finished 2006 with higher ridership and a Thomas event that reinforced political will to keep it thriving.

V&T has an operator nominated, and construction underway.

Texas State Railroad has awakened the politcal fires hard in Texas, and they are working very hard for a long-term solution.

We may have good news from Eureka/Timber Heritage...just in the nick of time.

Insurance no longer seems to be the project killer it was two years ago.

There's a philisophical change at NS with Wick Mooreman, the F-units are the visible part. Don't look for 611 to return, but things could happen now that never would have seen the light of day five years ago.

I'm a glass-half-full guy, and while its not all good, there's enough significant good to feel positive about what has, and what can, be done.

Yes. And, we are still looking for a good home for this caboose:

http://www.psrm.org/roster/caboose/cab90751/index.html

Lest we forget Wilmington & Western's rebuild of their flood ravaged line...now, soon to be completed.