I would like to hear any information on peoples experences with geting biuldings i.e. stations or towers donated buy railroads. I am looking for info. on who to contact, or any other ideas.

Thanks,
Mark Hendrickson

Mark,

Assuming you have identified the property you want to acquire, telephone the railroad to find out who owns it. The railroad may not own the station or structure. Be prepared to make a number of calls before you connect with a person who has decision-making authority.

If the property owner is amenable to donating or selling for a nominal sum, hire a lawyer who devotes a significant portion of his/her practice to real estate law. Your lawyer will then negotiate transactional components of property transfer with the owner's lawyer. You need good legal counsel to protect yourself from unforeseen deed problems (i.e. title liens) and other issues such as hazardous waste liability.

Once ink is on sales documents, start raising money to pay for structure removal and/or restoration.

Hope this helps. Sloan[/b]

Do you want to buy a railroad or donate a building? Do you want to buy a railroad building, then donate it to a museum? Somewhat confused......

In any case, if you know of a structure you wan to do something about, start with a research trip to the courthouse in the county in which the building stands. You can find tax records or deed histories which will tell you who owns the land the building occupies. Finding the correct representative could take any number of telephone calls - have your facts organized and ask as specific and thoughtful questions as possible during your search.

If you find a willing donor, then moving the building is another interesting proposition. Good luck.

dave

I did not make my Question very clear. Looking at a tower buiding that is still on live track. Wondering what it's like dealing with a Class 1 railroad. I hear about cars and buildings being donated, but not much about the nuts a bolts of the transaction.

Mark,

Three organizations come to mind regarding obtaining towers from active railroads. Lancaster Chapter NRHS received Lemo Tower (now at Strasburg) from Conrail. Harrisburg Chapter NRHS owns Harris Tower overlooking Amtrak yards in Harrisburg, PA. Seashore Trolley Museum obtained Northampton Street tower from the MBTA prior to dismantling the orange line elevated. Suggest you contact one of these groups for details on how each made arrangements. Illinois Railway Museum would also be a good source.

Sloan