At 2:00 p.m. yesterday it was made public, the City of Savannah has aquired 9.8 acres and the other two buildings of our shop complex from NS. This property is part of the "Battlefield Park" project which includes the purchase of historic for use rolling stock and the installation of around 13,000 feet of track, part of which will connect the visitors center with the roundouse complex. This will allow us to bring some of the 1.2 million people at the visitors center to our site via a shuttle train.

jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

What Jason didn't tell you is that this is the culmination of over a decade of effort and several rounds of negotiation. It is a major victory.

Before any construction can begin, several months of remediation will have to take place. I wouldn't look for any off site operation for another year or so.

dave



irondave@bellsouth.net

Congratulations. Does this mean that the museum will be reconnected to NS, or will it still be isolated?

kevin.r.gillespie@verizon.net

> Congratulations. Does this mean that the
> museum will be reconnected to NS, or will it
> still be isolated?

Although reconnecting to NS is obviously hoped for, the first challenge to accomplish what Jason mentioned will be to bridge Old Louisville Road. It will be very interesting to watch this develop over the next few years. It is exciting to know the possibility of connection to the outside world is one major step closer.


ssyfrett@bellsouth.net

> Congratulations. Does this mean that the
> museum will be reconnected to NS, or will it
> still be isolated?

---The goal is of course to reconnect, there are seceral different options we have to explore. As Stephen stated the first hurdle will be to bridge Louisville rd, this will be accomplished by either reconstructing the original using some of the original structure or by aquiring a used bridge. Which ever is the least expensive will be the route chosen.


jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

A reconnection to the outside world is planned, but more than one option under consideration. In all likelihood it will not be directly to NS.

dave

ironave@bellsouth.net

Jason,

Nice to hear that exciting things are happening down in Savannah. That "vacant lot" battlefield site has been kind of an eyesore separating the museum complex from the visitors center. Along with a rail connection to the outside world (which opens up a lot of possibilities), developing the battlefield area into something that attracts vistors might also draw traffic into the museum. Of course, some more rolling stock would also help.

--Malcolm

malcolmrcampbell@cs.com

> Nice to hear that exciting things are
> happening down in Savannah. That
> "vacant lot" battlefield site has
> been kind of an eyesore separating the
> museum complex from the visitors center.
> Along with a rail connection to the outside
> world (which opens up a lot of
> possibilities), developing the battlefield
> area into something that attracts vistors
> might also draw traffic into the museum. Of
> course, some more rolling stock would also
> help.

Malcolm,

----You are right! The plans call for the construction of a park inbetween the two sites, this will include construction of a replica fortification. This is being done to honor the second bloodiest battle of the revolutionary war. The former coach shop will house the remains of the CSS Georgia(currently at the bottom of the Savannah river), the paint shops will house the Savannah history museum and an interactive childrens technology museum. The visitor center will then be able to expand it's operation further into the old train shed(currently the home of the history museum). Where else in the country does a 25 acre site offer a State Railroad museum with on site rides/ocassional excursions, a park honoring a rev war battle were it took place, a southern iron clad, a museum covering regional history, and an interactive childrens technology museum????
You really should come check it out sometime.

jasonsobczynski@yahoo.com

Jason's youthful enthusiasm is overwhelming so he envisions what won't exist for a few years yet - not that what is there now isn't well worth seeing. A visit in the near future and another about 2006-7 should provide some considerable contrast.

Many hurdles (such as actually getting the ironclad out of the water and into a conservation lab that doesn't yet exist) need to be overcome. The paint shops buildings are so massive and decrepit that simply stabilizing them will be a huge undertaking.

Hopefully, continued forward motion will ensue on all these fronts for the next few years - and the process will probably be more interesting than the results.

I second Jason's invite to come on down now and in the future and see how things progress.

dave

> ----You are right! The plans call for the
> construction of a park inbetween the two
> sites, this will include construction of a
> replica fortification. This is being done to
> honor the second bloodiest battle of the
> revolutionary war. The former coach shop
> will house the remains of the CSS
> Georgia(currently at the bottom of the
> Savannah river), the paint shops will house
> the Savannah history museum and an
> interactive childrens technology museum. The
> visitor center will then be able to expand
> it's operation further into the old train
> shed(currently the home of the history
> museum). Where else in the country does a 25
> acre site offer a State Railroad museum with
> on site rides/ocassional excursions, a park
> honoring a rev war battle were it took
> place, a southern iron clad, a museum
> covering regional history, and an
> interactive childrens technology museum????
> You really should come check it out
> sometime.


ironave@bellsouth.net

Jason, ya'll excuse the off topic question, but is the Civil Rights Museum still open? I recall that it is near you guys. I did some design/technology work for them. At the time I could not visit but sent techs from my office in Columbus. You can reply off line. Thanks

Ray Montgomery
karenandray@bellsouth.net

karenandray@bellsouth.net

Congratulations. I will agree that a visit to the existing roundhouse museum is well worth the time. Glad to hear about the acquisitions. Good luck shoring up the shop buildings and making a connection to the station.

Sincerely,
David Ackerman

david_ackerman@yahoo.com