While the Ohio Railway Museum newsletter has not been updated, there are some photo updates. Apparently a Vulcan steam locomotive has been moved to "The Depot" which is a multi purpose public/private place. Web services, convention hall, womens "innerchange" retreat center, railroad museum, and host to a local train festival. Creative is probably the operative word here. The Depot apparently has a 1920s Brill trolley on the property (not sure if this too is from ORM) a GN passenger car, CV Caboose, and Georgia and Florida business car (the most recent addition).

http://www.the-depot.org/car100.php

Not sure about the story and how this relates to ORM in general. Also note that ORM has recently sent an original Hocking Valley caboose to that tourist line. Photos show some tracks being rebuilt and tarps being kept in decent condition. Hope the volunteer base is improving.
O Anderson

First off, I should say that I have no firsthand knowledge of this whatsoever. That being said, let the speculation begin! :-)

From the photos on The Depot's website, the streetcar looks vaguely like ORM's Kansas City single-trucker (neither Brill nor c1920's) but more closely resembles an Oporto car (Brill-built, but still not c1920's). I'm guessing it's the latter but I have no idea whence it would have been obtained.

When I worked as a conductor for CSX on the C&O I remember there being a caboose located at that location. I see they have expanded to include more equipment.

"The Depot" is obviously what happens when someone with too much money decides to create a gimmick to make even more money. This place has nothing to do with history, and judging from their website they would not hesitate to gut, modify or alter whatever equipment they have to create a false sense of "nostalgia". Its no different from the "Victoria Station" type of restaurants from a couple of decades ago.

However, The Depot seems to be successful so that begs the question. I wonder why the ORM, which is located about five miles away, couldn't have done a similar thing 10 years ago! The ORM is the poster child for passing up opportunities for success. The area is flush with money and suburbanite families with kids just looking for diversions. But the ORM decided that it was best to spend all their time and money in a fight between two factions within the organization instead of working together for the future of the facility.

Whereas the Depot has what looks like a 15" gauge railway just overflowing with kids, the ORM has a mile of track devoid of riders (just when are they open anyways?). While the Depot has moved and reconstructed a station that is used for events, the ORM has a run down station that sits unused.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

o anderson wrote, "ORM recently sent an original Hocking Valley caboose to that tourist line."


Hi,

The caboose mentioned above, C&O 90762, was built by the Standard Steel Car Co. in 1924, not the Hocking Valley Shops.

It was donated to the Center of Science & Industry, Columbus, in February 1976 and passed on to the ORM a few years ago.

Cheers, Roger