Certainly the above name deserves mention. Without his early battles with the D&RGW (which started a moevment), I doubt if much would remain today in Colorado narrow gauge country.

ryarger@rypn.org

who set up the B&O Museum in 1953.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

I'll second George M Hart for sure, but I've always wondered who the PRR official(s)were who gave the order to save the locomotives which are the heart of the RRM of Pa collection. I know some middle management who cared for the steamers during the late PRR/Penn Central days (at some career risk), but never heard about the original managment decision. That person should be nominated, as well.

jjburke0918@aol.com

A few top PRR managers were responsible. Probably most notable of all, Hal T. Cover, PRR Chief of Motive Power (1950s, early 60's) signed off on saving most of the PRR steamers on various company memos and cards by noting, "Hold as relic, HTC". Northumberland had several young enginehouse foremen who "protected" the collection, most notably William Volkmer, who now resides in Florida and is a noted author of several railroad and trolley books. During the 60's, Richard B. Hain of the PRR executive staff and Carl Helmatag of the PRR Legal Department were influential in making key decisions to bring the collection to Strasburg. During the 70's, George M. Hart, Director of RRMPA, negotiated with J.S. Fair of the Penn Central to keep the PRR Historical Collection intact and at Strasburg. As far as I can tell, none of the PRR Presidents made any decisions directly related to preserving or scrapping the collection, other than Martin Clement--whose suggestions and influence resulted in the restoration of H3 #1187 and the 1890s-era wooden passenger train, C&A coach No. 3, CVRR combination car No. "B", and the 2nd "John Stevens" replica (1939) for display at the NY World's Fair. His aim was to show the PRR's technological progression from the past juxtaposed against that of the company's seemingly "bright" future. When Clement made this decision, the seeds for the PRR Historical Collection were sown and the rest as they say is history.

> I'll second George M Hart for sure, but I've
> always wondered who the PRR official(s)were
> who gave the order to save the locomotives
> which are the heart of the RRM of Pa
> collection. I know some middle management
> who cared for the steamers during the late
> PRR/Penn Central days (at some career risk),
> but never heard about the original managment
> decision. That person should be nominated,
> as well.


http://rrmuseumpa.org

No Message

> A few top PRR managers were responsible.
> Probably most notable of all, Hal T. Cover,
> PRR Chief of Motive Power (1950s, early
> 60's) signed off on saving most of the PRR
> steamers on various company memos and cards
> by noting, "Hold as relic, HTC".
> Northumberland had several young enginehouse
> foremen who "protected" the
> collection, most notably William Volkmer,
> who now resides in Florida and is a noted
> author of several railroad and trolley
> books. During the 60's, Richard B. Hain of
> the PRR executive staff and Carl Helmatag of
> the PRR Legal Department were influential in
> making key decisions to bring the collection
> to Strasburg. During the 70's, George M.
> Hart, Director of RRMPA, negotiated with
> J.S. Fair of the Penn Central to keep the
> PRR Historical Collection intact and at
> Strasburg. As far as I can tell, none of the
> PRR Presidents made any decisions directly
> related to preserving or scrapping the
> collection, other than Martin Clement--whose
> suggestions and influence resulted in the
> restoration of H3 #1187 and the 1890s-era
> wooden passenger train, C&A coach No. 3,
> CVRR combination car No. "B", and
> the 2nd "John Stevens" replica
> (1939) for display at the NY World's Fair.
> His aim was to show the PRR's technological
> progression from the past juxtaposed against
> that of the company's seemingly
> "bright" future. When Clement made
> this decision, the seeds for the PRR
> Historical Collection were sown and the rest
> as they say is history.
Thanks for the detailed chronology. I knew about Bill Volkmer, but not the others. Interesting that they saved no "modern engines" (T-1, Q-1 or J-1) Guess they were considered "failed experiments" or "other railroad's designs" in the case of the J-1. Thanks again.

jjburke0918@aol.com