Not only funding, we also need more volunteers regardless of skill level. Since last December, we've moved 2 ex-SR cabooses from storage along Riverside Drive to our shop/yard area and both have been stripped, painted and lettered. With a few more helpers, we can finish these cabs in short order so they can join the rebuilt ex-C&O wood cab. We are about 40% thru restoring a Model 20 Edwards Motor Car (ex-CB&Q) which will take about $50k to rebuild and power. We're about 30% thru restoring an authentic Asheville trolley which will take around $20-25k to make operational, including installing a short stretch of overhead catenary.

A 40-ton Plymouth is on the property but will require $30k to be rebuilt to meet FRA regs. We are in the process of purchasing an Alco switcher but it has to go thru another party and our bid be accepted before ownership happens. So far, so good, but taking possession of this engine may not happen until early next year.

All of this takes time, money, volunteers and coordination between groups. We've made huge strides in the past 3 years, including rebuilding all but a small stretch of the 3.5 miles of track (including 2000 ties, countless tie plates, spikes, joint bolts and grading) and adding 2 switches and 2 sidings for storage. 3 cabooses have been rebuilt/restored just since December 2010 with only a max crew of 7 people, of which 2-3 of us work on it weekly.

If anyone has contacts for grant writers and/or organizations accepting grant applications, particularly "green technology" funding (for the Edward's car), please let me know.

If there are any folks in this area (north of Asheville NC off I-26) interested in working with us, please contact me at jimking3@charter.net or 828-777-5619.

Thanks,
Jim King
Trainmaster, CML