Locomotive sale is poor decision
Michael Lee Moose

The Virginia Museum of Transportation's recent announcement of the proposed sale of one of its triumvirate of locomotives, the Nickle Plate 763, to an Ohio museum is very disappointing.

The transaction is even more sad because it is revealing as to both the state of the museum and the quality of leadership and decision-making of the museum board itself.

The Roanoke Times' article quotes Jason Hall, the director of government and media relations for the American Association of Museums, who says that the association's code of ethics states that money from such sales shall "in no event be used for anything other than acquisition or direct care of collections."

It is shameful the board is willing to part with one of its few major assets, particularly in light of the few reasons given.

The article quotes a past director of the transportation museum as saying the 763 requires constant maintenance, as does all rolling stock. Well, certainly it does.

A basic function of a museum is to maintain its major assets. Apparently this has not been done with the 763.

The article describes the locomotive and tender as being "bitten by rust." However, the museum in Ohio feels the condition of the 763 is such that it can be restored to an operating condition.

If the transportation museum does not have funds for this level of restoration, why not at least restore it to a condition where it can be stabilized? Perhaps future generations in the region will have more respect and appreciation for this prime example of Americana.

By selling this major asset for less than the price of scrap metal (by the way, how was the price determined?), future residents of the region will be deprived of the opportunity to have their chance at restoring the 763 to an operating excursion-type level. This would generate more funds on a sustainable level, as well as strengthen the museum's collection.

However, this would require a need for far-sighted leadership with a concern for future generations. It would also require more inventive fundraising than the self-destructive practice of selling major assets.

Perhaps a higher caliber leadership would also be more responsive to public input on the decision-making process. A less provincial, more enlightened perspective would also help.

To claim that the 763 really doesn't belong in the museum because in its former working days it did not operate in Virginia is no reason to exclude it.

The 763 has been in the area since the early 1960s. It has spent most of its life here. It has a shared history with the valley. The flood of 1985, which it survived, is cited in the article. This should be a badge of merit instead of being demeaned by negative connotations.

Further, there is nothing the people of Ohio can do to restore the 763 that cannot be done here with worthy leadership to guide the project. Do the future generations in this region deserve any less than those in Ohio?

I refuse to believe the Roanoke Valley does not have an appreciation for its rail heritage.

They do have some neat stuff there but seemed (at least during my visit) that the place suffered from a lack of direction and had no real comprehensive interpretive plan. I never did find out why they had a missle in the back yard, perhaps that says something in of itself.


Dave

Given my location and experience with VMT, I feel that a few comments are in order. VMT now has an Executive Director who "gets it" and who could lead the Museum in positive directions. Whether or not he will be able to overcome negative momentum and "status quo" is yet to be seen. There have been some very good people on the staff and Board over the years, but they all have given up after a couple of years and gone on to greener pastures.