Anyone but the densest of people, or people who only think literally, would easily figure out that I meant that a new lease would have to be negotiated with the new owner, if so desired. It's entirely a discussion between TVRM and NCTM, or inside the NCTM board, whether the car is better off staying at TVRM at least a while longer, or being sent to NCTM as soon as possible. Heck, even finding a new lessor on more attractive terms could be an option.

Oddly, I've been in this precise situation myself, being a member of an organization that dissolved and voted to turn over the remaining assets to a non-profit museum, at a time when two cars leased by private operators were still out on other railroads, one a couple states away. Both cars, in this case however, were due for repairs of one kind or another, and one operator was not in the best of financial straits, and the operators cancelled the leases and sent the cars "back" to the new owner--fortunately, while the mainline RRs in question were still willing/able to do what amounted to "hospital moves" under "Home Shop For Repair" directives.

To be clear.... my confusion comes from the fact that TVRM is itself a non-profit. I don’t think anyone would question TVRM’s shop capabilities. So again seems a bit of an odd announcement. Obviously the blue water chapter gets to choose who they give their stuff to.... but I also can go “huh... seems strange” when they announce it.

Nobody that I have heard here or elsewhere questions TVRM as a caretaker or a custodian.

The simple issue is that a Seaboard Air Line observation falls outside the mission statement (or, at least, what should be its mission statement) of the TVRM as a historical artifact; whereas as an artifact it DOES fall under the (easily presumed) mission statement and applicable purview of the NCTM, having operated through North Carolina on NY-Florida trains. To TVRM, this car is a tool, not a relic. It's the other way around for NCTM. Further, state-scope museums like NCTM, CSRM, RRMPa, etc. have a duty to broaden their holdings to represent the entire state and multiple railroads, not just SR because NCTM is in Spencer or PRR because it's named "Pennsylvania."

This decision could NOT have been made in a vacuum. No doubt Bluewater personnel had discussions with both TVRM and NCTM (and perhaps other appropriate museums from Va. to Florida) before this happened, and I'm certain that whatever the ultimate outcome, both places are several steps ahead of our wanton speculation. (Well, I hope so.)