VMT- Something's Coming

Brian Hebert · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 1:52 pm

I took the survey and made a donation. I'd be interested to know the results.
A couple questions were no brainers such as "Would you be more willing to visit the VMT if 611 was under steam, or on display, or if it were away being restored off site?".
I guess they're trying figure if 611 isn't there, then the visitors wont be either. Seems like they might need a stand in while 611 is gone.

I'm surprised this news didn't generate a whole new thread.

Brian

Dave · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 2:29 pm

The day is still young.

dave

Rick Rowlands · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:13 pm

I think the study is necessary to determine how to proceed with the restoration, what terms and conditions would be required with a lease to NS that would benefit the VMT, how to raise the funding, where to house the locomotive etc. There are many complex issues to be decided, the easiest part is the mechanical restoration itself.

alcoguy1 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 3:37 pm

Well darn, now what are we going to do for April 1st?

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

alcoguy1 wrote:

Well darn, now what are we going to do for April 1st?

a Big Boy is getting restored...

...owait on that one....

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 4:29 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

This is the "money quote" (literally) from the Trains.com news story:

Quote:

Fitzpatrick adds that railfans will ultimately decide if the 611 runs again. “We will need to raise the funds for the study and restoration,” he said. “We don’t have a third party to help us. Her restoration will ultimately depend on financial support from her fans around the world.”

While I will be donating to this I always prefer to know what the target number is and how close they are. It's been working for Kickstarter, it could work here. Yes, leaving it open ended doesn't put a ceiling on the money raised but I think you can actually raise more with a true target.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

One interesting approach, though it may rub some the wrong way, is to establish a membership in the "sub-committee" with benefits in keeping with the level of membership--first crack at excursion tickets, an opportunity to ride in the NS business car on a trip, special keepsakes like a belt buckle cast from brass from a replaced journal or section of flue tube, etc. If someone hands them $1,000 or $10,000 to the cause, don't they deserve something in return, like the public TV pledge-a-thons?

I'm sure this wouldn't work legally but give me an hour on the mainline behind the throttle (on a coal drag or something without passengers) and I'll donate $10,000. That's actually a reasonable amount to fulfill a lifetime dream.

robertmacdowell · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 5:48 pm

Now this is a place where I'd want to see someone with fundraising "chops" being involved. I'd want to see that more than seeing a steam expert.

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

Emmo213 wrote:

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

One interesting approach, though it may rub some the wrong way, is to establish a membership in the "sub-committee" with benefits in keeping with the level of membership--first crack at excursion tickets, an opportunity to ride in the NS business car on a trip, special keepsakes like a belt buckle cast from brass from a replaced journal or section of flue tube, etc. If someone hands them $1,000 or $10,000 to the cause, don't they deserve something in return, like the public TV pledge-a-thons?

I'm sure this wouldn't work legally but give me an hour on the mainline behind the throttle (on a coal drag or something without passengers) and I'll donate $10,000. That's actually a reasonable amount to fulfill a lifetime dream.

I'd be right there with you if they offered that opportunity.

IC382 · **Joined:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:28 am **Posts:** 135

I took the survey today...excellent questions VMT. Most importantly, I made a donation to the cause...and I can proudly say that my donation came without the following:

Pre-conditions
Expectations
Photography venues
or Opinions

I believe that VMT has had a stroke of brilliance...and if anyone truly believes that "people in the know" don't already know what the 611 will and will not need to fire again...then you aren't giving the hardworking people in steam restoration much credit.

611 - may you soon be towed to an appropriate shop...Good Friday.

mikerowe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:08 pm

Opening gambit: FRA 1472-day inspection. Guestimate $750,000, before any deficiencies are uncovered and repaired. The day is long past when you could just put a fire in the belly of the beast and head off into the setting sun. It is a different world now.

That's a steep opening challenge that may take several years to meet. Anybody out there making contributions of $100,000 or more??? Sorry, guys, but $25 here and $25 there just ain't gonna do it.

I don't want to be a wet blanket on anybody's people's dreams, but I think we all have to be realistic about how long this will take--if it even happens.

Mike

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:16 pm

IC382, with the report expected in 60 to 90 days I think you're spot on regarding already knowing alot of what needs to be done. These people aren't going to attach their names to something if it didn't have a good chance to succeed. Not unless this is just an elaborate fundraising scheme.

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:20 pm

mikerowe wrote:

Opening gambit: FRA 1472-day inspection. Guestimate $750,000.
Mike

I've often wondered how much this stuff actually costs. I mean does it cost Strasburg this much every time they do a 1472? Or it is a matter of when a group does a 1472 they think "this do the inspection plus this, that, and the other thing?".

CBQ483 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:19 am **Posts:** 47

Some behind the scenes video from before today's press conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R0m5ThlveQ

Some Roanoke Chapter members making noise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uitduJPwUgI

A quick walk around after the conference today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTU0vvLfVtI

AndyPullen · **Joined:** Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:27 pm **Posts:** 33

Materials and overhead aren't cheap....truer words haven't been spoken.

I am a former employee of the Steam Shop. I have already told the Museum that my machine shop is available.

Bob Yuill was very good at documenting the work done on both locomotives. I'm sure that information was saved somewhere.

Andy Pullen

mikerowe · **Posted:** Sat Feb 23, 2013 1:19 am

Strasburg already has the shops and personnel on site to do running repairs, rebuilds, and 1472-day inspections on their locomotives. Most places like VMT have to contract those things out, and the independent shops have to make a living if they expect to stay in business. So comparing VMT with Strasburg is somewhat like comparing oranges to tangerines; both are dealing with steam locomotives, but that is about as far as it goes. Besides, to the best of my knowledge, the Strasburg has never tackled anything as HUGE as the the 611. Strasburg turned half of the wheels from the UP 844 a while back, but I seriously doubt they coudl get the whole 844 into their shop!

A friend is the G.M of a western narrow-gauge tourist railroad that just overhauled and certified a narrow-gauge Shay. Again, the staff and mechanical facilities (for the most part) were on hand--but even then my friend figures he has a quarter million dollars in out-of-pocket expenses to get the locomotive into compliance.

These are big, expensive toys, guys, not your '57 Chevy. And once you jump through all of the regulatory hoops, you will find that the day-to-day operating and maintenance costs are not inconsequential.

I am not an authority on FRA regulations. But I do believe that a locomotive which has not operated since the early 1990s will have to start with a clean sheet of paper. Past records from 20 years ago do not carry forward and can only provide a crude roadmap.

IMHO, of course.

Mike