I have a couple thoughts percolating from this thread.
Nathan6chime: What was the value that the City of Fort Wayne put on its "asset" (the 765) when it sold it to the group?

If indeed the group formerly known as FO261 takes possession of CB&Q 4000, would it be feasible to have a removable "Aeolus" personality?

Its funny, the only time I saw 261 steam by, it was limping (and being pushed by diesels) due to some bearing problems. Also, the only time I saw ATSF 3751 it was limping (and being pushed by diesels) due to some bearing problems. Not sure if I would jinx any other big steamers if I went out to see them.

Well, if they eliminate the more troublesome components, the first thing they'll do is get rid of that bothersome steam locomotive. That would save lots of time, energy and money! Then again, passenger coaches aren't much better, get rid of them too.

Switch the whole thing over to leased charter buses, makes a lot more sense economically, and you have much more flexibility too. Railroad didn't kill off steam and passenger trains just to annoy railfans, they had good economic reasons for it!

OTOH, I really hope they won't look at this stuff from only a "Business model / revenue" perspective, because it's not a good way to make money. Instead I hope they're doing it because they enjoy it.

In that case, please post a message here any time you buy tickets for mainline excursions, so the rest of us can plan accordingly. :)

That makes me curious now since it is wholly owned by the group, which is a good thing now to keep all the finances under control.

I live in the Twin Cities and attended the Gopher Rail event last Saturday where Steve spoke.

Yes, he was somewhat guarded and didn't say anything definitive. However, my impression from listening to him (including the vocal inflections and not just the words) is that the 261 is basically done and he will be very gun-shy about dealing with any more museums, their management, and possible lease arrangements (e.g., MILW 265). He didn't seem to have any overt issues with IRM or anybody else (except Green Bay), and he didn't rule it out but that type of arrangement is apparently not at the top of the list.

The city of La Crosse was approached about the CB&Q 4000 and they were quite receptive. Unfortunately, apparently there are a some individuals who have something to do with that engine that DO NOT want to see it leave (even if it was restored to operation ????). Steve indicated he would make it attractive for them to let him restore and operate the engine (including money for long-term care after the engine was returned to the city). Not sure where this sits. Maybe those individuals can be hunted down and convinced otherwise?

Possible GN candidates also exist and he appeared to consider that a very attractive option.

Essentially, any candidate for restoration has to be roller bearing (the 4000 is all roller - including the rods - if memory serves) and large enough to pull excursion size consists at sustained mainline speeds (60 mph) for a 100 duration. Obviously, this limits to pool of candidates. He did mention that a CB&Q O-Class would be neat, but the logistics of getting one of the surviving engines back to the TC area for restoration would be prohibitive (it has been explored). Smaller engines, while neat, such as a SOO pacific, are too small and are friction bearing.

In the interim, vintage diesels may fill the bill (EMD Es), but these apparently are problematic because they have 33 in. wheels which are no longer manufactured. Fs would also be a possibility, but he said the price for decent units tends to go up when he comes calling.

As has been discussed elsewhere, the steam operation doesn't really make money; operation/leasing of the private cars subsidizes the steam program, along with membership dues and fundraising. Steve explained that the logistics of operating a large locomotive is favorable/peculiar to the Twin Cities and likely wouldn't work in many other areas with similar population densities. This is because he has developed connections to friendly RRs and there are places to turn (wye) a large engine at a number of locations fairly easily that just happen to be about 100 miles away.

Personally, I've good experiences with Steve's group (I'm not a member) and have ridden a number of times (including Premium Class). I plan to continue supporting him, including taking a trip to Chicago this May.

[quote="James Kosel"]I was hoping for some bigger news than this.....sounds like everything is still up in the air.

I have nothing but good things to say about the friends of the 261 and I support them 100%; however, one bit of advice I wish to give them would be that they update their website more often. Last summer was the last update. The site puts out very little information on what's going on and their forum is as dead as a door nail. Last post was over a week ago.

I was considering a financial contribution to the group and perhaps become a member. With the situation always being so uncertain and the news so little and far in between, I'm beginning to get discouraged and wonder if they are truly dedicated to their mission. It seems to me they are not interested in expanding their membership. There may be many others like me who want to contribute and become more involved but are hesitant as well.

I don't mean to be negative but there is clearly a few aspects of the organization that could use some improvement.[/quote]


James,

It is interesting that you mentioned the website. A new one is in the works and may be up in running in a week or so if everything goes well. It was never Steve's intention to have blog or be an entertainment website. His mission has always been to provide the best possible experience with the organization's equipment, whether that be a steam locomotive or the private car fleet. To that end, the website was used as a connection for interested parties to become introduced to the organization or to provide on-line ticketing, which has worked quite well thanks to the tireless work of Frank and Judy Sandberg.

As for bigger news, if there is nothing to report then that's just the reality. We hope you enjoy the new site and that it serves better to satisfy your and other interested parties' needs. It will contain updates when some "real" news develops.

Thanks for you interest and your support.

Don C.

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