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Preservation Success Story PIC https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5701	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Burlington John [ Thu Apr 24, 2003 8:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Preservation Success Story PIC
Many of you may have heard of the efforts of Portland Oregon resident Chris Fussell and his desire to preserve an Amtrak F40PH, specifically #231. If you havenÂ’t heard of Chris and his engine, please check the link below. Many of us grind our teeth on a regular basis over the operation of ol #3, the cosmetic state of a certain car, the demolition of a favorite structure, the (go ahead and fill in the blank) __________. I know, because I am certainly no exception to the rule. Chris became enamored with #231 when it was a regular visitor to the Portland area. Upon hearing #231 had been retired and stored at Beech Grove pending disposition, Chris swung into action. Chris, if I recall correctly, is barely into his twenties. And, as of today, #231 is in Portland Oregon, where the plan is to donate it to the Friends of the 4449, a first class group that certainly needs no introduction on these pages. The Friends will serve as the caretaker of the locomotive, a task they are well suited for. Ultimately, it is hoped that #231 will be added to the roster of the proposed Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation museum, taking a rightful place alongside PortlandÂ’s better known trio of steam locomotives and other artifacts. You can contribute towards the costs of moving and preserving 231 by checking out the info on the web site. While we talk about it, Chris has defied the odds and the naysayers. He has gone and done it. I am impressed by his dedication and drive. You should be too. Congratulations Chris! Regards, Burlington John PS - The picture is from the 231 web site ... Chris in front of his locomotive.... F40PHR 231 BurlingtonJohn@trainorders.com

Author:	K.R. Bell [ Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Preservation Success Story
Great story! Just goes to show that anything can be accomplished with a positive attitude and ambition. Railway museums need more young folks like Chris who are making an impact on the field. Our three greatest crisises on the horizon are: 1. rust; 2. no money; 3. no stewardship program = no young people = no interest = no more railway museums. Just something for the fraternity to ponder. K.R. Bell > Many of you may have heard of the efforts of > Portland Oregon resident Chris Fussell and > his desire to preserve an Amtrak F40PH, > specifically #231. > If you havenÂ’t heard of Chris and his > engine, please check the link below. Many of > us grind our teeth on a regular basis over > the operation of ol #3, the cosmetic state > of a certain car, the demolition of a > favorite structure, the (go ahead and fill > in the blank) __________. I know, because I > am certainly no exception to the rule. > Chris became enamored with #231 when it was > a regular visitor to the Portland area. Upon > hearing #231 had been retired and stored at > Beech Grove pending disposition, Chris swung > into action. > Chris, if I recall correctly, is barely into > his twenties. And, as of today, #231 is in > Portland Oregon, where the plan is to donate > it to the Friends of the 4449, a first class > group that certainly needs no introduction > on these pages. The Friends will serve as > the caretaker of the locomotive, a task they > are well suited for. Ultimately, it is hoped > that #231 will be added to the roster of the > proposed Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation > museum, taking a rightful place alongside > PortlandÂ’s better known trio of steam > locomotives and other artifacts. > You can contribute towards the costs of > moving and preserving 231 by checking out > the info on the web site. > While we talk about it, Chris has defied the > odds and the naysayers. He has gone and done > it. I am impressed by his dedication and > drive. You should be too. > Congratulations Chris! > Regards, > Burlington John > PS - The picture is from the 231 web site > ... Chris in front of his locomotive....

Author:	Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Thu Apr 24, 2003 11:33 pm ]
Post subject:	More to the story--and more $$ needed!
There's an unsung hero to this story: An anonymous benefactor stepped in at make-or-break time and loaned the purchase price of $20,000 interest-free to save the loco. Therefore the loco may be safe, but donations are still needed--check the website to donate. They can't wait until the loco earns money in lease service, mind you! And I would like to personally thank the anonymous soul for his assistance in this mission--s/he is one of the "angels" that have helped to make these missions possible! Alexander D. Mitchell IV, who first proposed an "F40PH Preservation Society" in the pages of Trains years ago, and is happy to see the efforts come to fruition another way! lner4472@bcpl.net

Author:	Topfuel [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 9:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
I agree with Mr. Mitchell that the REAL heros here are the people who unselfishly came up with their own money to preserve this loco. We shouldn't go too far tripping over ourselves to pat this kid on the back when in fact, it's the easiest thing in the world to say "Gee, we really should save this loco because I think it's neat" (or car, or building, or whatever). The reality is it takes money, and since companies are in business to make a profit they have better things to do than to give these things away, or donate free moves just because some railfan thinks they should. While I think it is a very good thing to have young blood in the rail preservation community, I also think this was a fluke situation to be able to put out an "SOS" on a railfan chat room and have people magically appear within days with money in hand to buy loco 231, especially when F40's are not even close to being rare at this point. I hope Chris doesn't think it is always this easy, and that every time he puts out the call to save something in the future this is what will happen. I also hope said hero benefactors don't resent all these referrences to the 231 being "his" locomotive when he wasn't the one that shelled out the cash to buy it. There should not be an expectation that The Railfan Community at large should always be the ones to finance these preservation projects just so someone can have an engine to play with. This is one reason why I admire the Levins. Their E units are financed by their own private funds. They don't put the bite on other people to finance their pet projects. If they want to save a piece of RR history, they save it themselves.

Author:	T.J. Gaffney [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:40 am ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
As a kid in his 20's (albeit VERY late 20's), I have to applaud the efforts here to preserve this car. Topfuel does have a point, however; support is key to any project succeeding. Our combine is an excellent example; a lot of things had to happen to preserve it, including convincing our board that the expense of an historic car was worth the long term growth of the museum. We have had hundreds of nimby's and "doll house" depot lovers who have attacked us for blocking the view of their beautiful depot, but the fact remains that rail heritage is still a small part of what we do; arguing for the preservation, of say, 180 USCG Cutter is much easier in my area that the preservation of a combine, even one documented as having been repaired at our shops on several occassions. Overall, we should applaud the efforts of the group as a whole; foresight such as this, especially when there are so many these engines left, is rare indeed. Just remember, there was once a time when NYC Hudson's and PRR T1's were plentiful, too...... > I agree with Mr. Mitchell that the REAL > heros here are the people who unselfishly > came up with their own money to preserve > this loco. We shouldn't go too far tripping > over ourselves to pat this kid on the back > when in fact, it's the easiest thing in the > world to say "Gee, we really should > save this loco because I think it's > neat" (or car, or building, or > whatever). The reality is it takes money, > and since companies are in business to make > a profit they have better things to do than > to give these things away, or donate free > moves just because some railfan thinks they > should. > While I think it is a very good thing to > have young blood in the rail preservation > community, I also think this was a fluke > situation to be able to put out an > "SOS" on a railfan chat room and > have people magically appear within days > with money in hand to buy loco 231, > especially when F40's are not even close to > being rare at this point. I hope Chris > doesn't think it is always this easy, and > that every time he puts out the call to save > something in the future this is what will > happen. I also hope said hero benefactors > don't resent all these referrences to the > 231 being "his" locomotive when he > wasn't the one that shelled out the cash to > buy it. There should not be an expectation > that The Railfan Community at large should > always be the ones to finance these > preservation projects just so someone can > have an engine to play with. This is one > reason why I admire the Levins. Their E > units are financed by their own private > funds. They don't put the bite on other > people to finance their pet projects. If > they want to save a piece of RR history, > they save it themselves. Port Huron Museum tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

Author:	ge13031 [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 10:52 am ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
To me this story is a series of switches thrown in the right direction and it shows you what can happen when they are: 1. Appeal to save loco 2. Place to put loco 3. Special price from Amtrak 4. No interest loan to finance purchase 5. Necessary work to get loco shippable 6. Loco ships with no hassle While Chris appears as the figurehead for this operation there is a lot more behind the scenes work that made this happen and will continue to happen ... It is not always this easy, but this is one heck of a learning experience. Having the expertise and backing of Mr. Mc certainly helps! lamontdc@adelphia.net

Author:	Tim Stuy [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
> While I think it is a very good thing to > have young blood in the rail preservation > community, I also think this was a fluke > situation to be able to put out an > "SOS" on a railfan chat room and > have people magically appear within days > with money in hand to buy loco 231... Actually, the project to buy and restore EL diner 741 started as an outgrowth of a thread on the EL email list. It was a way for several people who had never met before to come together and get the project off the ground. On the same list an attempt was made to start a group to preserve an ex-EL SDP45 which was stillborn. It would be interesting to record which internet started projects succeed and which ones fail. Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society tstuy@eldcps.org

Author:	phillman [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 6:56 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
>Boy, sounds like someone doesn't like giving credit where credit is due. I sure hope that Topfuel is not a boss somewhere -- I would feel sorry for his employees. This 'kid' deserves most of the credit for preserving this loco. He did a lot more than sit at his computer & say 'this is cool, I want to preserve an F40'. It does take more than one person to pull off something like this, but Chris spearheaded the effort and made all of the necessary arrangements. He used all of the resources out there to get the job done and that is what good leaders do. No one does everything by themselves in a project like this -- that would be ridiculous to expect. What he did is come up with an idea, and by using his abilities, followed it through to completion (or so). Chris deserves to be recognized as a leader in the preservation movement at this time. Anyone can 'talk'. He provided action. He got the job done. Period. It is too bad that someone here may be jealous of what he did and is trying to discount his efforts. That is also ridiculous.

Author:	Rob Davis [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:	MEC #407
A similar effort has begun to save Maine Central U-18B #407. I will try to get more info for the briefs. These grass roots efforts are temendous! Rob rdavis@rypn.org

Author:	Rob Davis [ Fri Apr 25, 2003 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Thanks is due to Chris
Angel investors answer many prayers, but lets not lose sight that Chris apparently did the hardest thing - he managed the project. To out it more bluntly, he got of his duff and did something. Dreamers are easy to find. Money is less so, but it is out there. It is the manager - the person who can tie it all together - that often brings the project to fruition. Chris is a young man who made the effort to find a cause, looked to get help and get it moving. Nice story! Rob rdavis@rypn.org

Author:	Smokebox [ Sat Apr 26, 2003 2:36 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: More to the story
You make it look so simple! The fact is that Chris had flown to Beech Grove many times, on his own funds, to talk to the right people and inspect the locomotive I think a year previous to purchase. It ended up comming down to I think a 6 day notice of paying up or the locomotive was destined for scrap. There is a scrapper either on site or very nearby, and F40s were being cut up then and there. Chris has pictures, and it's not very pretty. The "paperwork" in managing such a project, and having the drive to finish this project should be comended. Chris did try to secure bank loans for this project, but was unsuccessful. Chris turned 21 last Thursday. Smokebox > While I think it is a very good thing to > have young blood in the rail preservation > community, I also think this was a fluke > situation to be able to put out an > "SOS" on a railfan chat room and > have people magically appear within days > with money in hand to buy loco 231, > especially when F40's are not even close to > being rare at this point. I hope Chris > doesn't think it is always this easy, and > that every time he puts out the call to save > something in the future this is what will > happen. I also hope said hero benefactors > don't resent all these referrences to the > 231 being "his" locomotive when he > wasn't the one that shelled out the cash to > buy it. There should not be an expectation > that The Railfan Community at large should > always be the ones to finance these > preservation projects just so someone can > have an engine to play with. This is one > reason why I admire the Levins. Their E > units are financed by their own private > funds. They don't put the bite on other > people to finance their pet projects. If > they want to save a piece of RR history, > they save it themselves. "orhf dot org"

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