BALTIMORE & OHIO (B&O) RAILROAD MUSEUM CANCELS
THE FAIR OF THE IRON HORSE 175, FESTIVAL OF TRAINS

MARYLAND'S LARGEST SNOWSTORM TAKES ITS TOLL ON MUSEUM
- FOCUS TURNS TO RESTORATION EFFORTS-

(Baltimore, MD)‹ February 28, 2003 ­ The Board of Directors of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum has announced the cancellation of the Fair of
the Iron Horse 175, Festival of Trains due to damage the Museum incurred
during the recent snowstorm in Maryland. The railroading exposition was
scheduled to take place June 28 through July 3, 2003 at the Museum and in
Baltimore's Carroll Park to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of American
Railroading.

"Due to the catastrophic damage to this historic Roundhouse and its
magnificent collection, the Fair of the Iron Horse must be cancelled,"
stated Jim Brady, Chairman of the B&O Railroad Museum Board of Directors.
"Our focus now is to restore, re-build, and re-open this national treasure.
This Herculean effort is already underway. It is imperative that this
process be driven by the highest standards of historic preservation,
restoration and museum programming. I have the greatest confidence in the
team that has been assembled to face this challenge. We look forward to the
re-birth of the Birthplace of American Railroading when this national
treasure is returned to an even greater state of glory," added Brady.

During the height of the storm, the Iron Structure of the 1884 Baldwin
Roundhouse, the Museum's signature building and collections exhibit space,
collapsed under the weight of the snow and force of wind. Fortunately, no
one was in the Museum at the time of the collapse. Structural engineers are
working daily to stabilize the building and protect the collection from
further damage. The Museum is home to the oldest, most comprehensive
collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere.

Further details to be announced Wednesday, March 12, 2003. For current
information on the Museum's restoration, please visit www.borail.org.
###


eledbetter@rypn.org

So now I get to unleash a THIRD five-minute string of obscenities............ >:-(

lner4472@bcpl.net

Jim, any chance of shifting the venue to Spencer?

Dave

> Jim, any chance of shifting the venue to
> Spencer?

I don't know that it would make much sense from Baltimore's point of view, Dave. Most of the sponsors got involved baucase they are Baltimore-based or have strong historic ties there. Look at the main sponsor, CSX--they don't go to Spencer, that's the other guys. The concept of the celebration is tied to the specific heritage of the B&O, Mt. Clare, and the 1928 Halethorpe fair. The B&O Museum staff would have to put a lot of effort into an event which wouldn't generate vistorship and patronage in their own community.

I'm afraid it just doaesn't make sense--the Fair is the B&O Museum and the B&O Museum is the Fair--another festival somewhere else is a good thing, but a different thing with different intesrest groups, financial alliances, sponsors, etc.

eledbetter@rypn.org

Please note that the NRHS/RLHS will still be held in Baltimore and that only a couple of the more than two dozen events that were planned (i.e. those involving the B&O Museum) will be effected.

Also, please remember none of the equipment that was to be used at Rail Fair was scheduled to also be used on convention events.

Bob H



Heavenrich@yahoo.com

> Jim, any chance of shifting the venue to
> Spencer?

> Dave

Dave,

I wondered the same thing about Steamtown... not so much for the B&O team but for the groups excited to show off at the fair.

Rob

trains@robertjohndavis.com

> Dave,

> I wondered the same thing about Steamtown...
> not so much for the B&O team but for the
> groups excited to show off at the fair.

> Rob

Well, that and after recovering cost, any extra income could go to the restoration of the roof fund. I talked it over with our director (during an all day in the rain motorcar trip) and if we had a live track connection in Savannah we could do it here.

Dave