Hello,

I am a volunteer at the McHenry RR Loop in McHenry, ND, where we run about a mile and a half of track around a giant loop built at the end of a Northern Pacific branch in 1899. For a more in-depth look you can go to mchenryloop.50megs.com We were also placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We recently recieved about 4.5 inches of rain which has put our track in the worst condition it's ever been in, and we are basically shut down. Since our volunteer group consists mostly of non-railfans, no one is quite sure where to go with this, so I am trying to find out if anyone knows of any grants that would be available to us so that we could raise the track out of the mud and pour in some real ballast. Any help in finding a grant of any source would be much appreciated!

You may contact me at earl02@hotmail.com if you have any suggestions. We really appreciate it!

Sincerely,
Lewis Ableidinger
Kensal, ND
Engineer, McHenry RR Loop

McHenry RR Loop
earl02@hotmail.com

Sounds like a tough situation.

(1) Was there a disaster declaration by FEMA? If so, you might be entitled to repair assistance, particularly if any of the damaged properties are government owned.

(1b) If FEMA has issued a disaster declaration, look into tapping into the 15% Mitigation Funds that go with any disaster declaration. These are discretionary funds (read those with real political clout often are at the head of the line) designed to prevent or lessen the impact of a repeat occurrence.

(2) Contact your local Planning and Development District (PDD). These agencies still proliferate in the South, and serve as the sources of information about, and clearinghouses for, grant applications. Some of the PDDs are pretty good; frankly, some are useless. Your local city/county administrators can tell you whether they are worth fooling with.

Beware. If the Mayor or County Executive is on the PDD Board, you can be sure you will be told the agency is valuable and an essential government service.

(3) See what assistance your local governments can offer. Be prepared to show them, authoritatively, the economic and educational impacts of your attraction's operation.

There has been some substantial discussion here about the pressing need of railroad preservation groups to develop and then maintain valid economic impact assessments. Here is a case where having such information, ready to go, would be invaluable.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

Lewis:

Art Miller is right on target.

An additional suggestion. Speak with your elected State representatives. They may have some discretionary money that they can move your way. Quite often state elected officals have the ability to help with small projects. They usually are able to give $10,000 to a community to help them buy a new fire truck, or rebuilt a ball field. That much money would go far for you to ballast up your track and surface it.

Stone Consulting & Design
agrylandrio@stoneconsulting.com

My colleague, Mr. Lanrio of Stone Consulting, is "spot on" when it comes to dialing up the local state legislators.

Then, I checked out your website. A photo of a child peering out of a caboose window generated the following thoughts.

(1) I have found it helps to get the local and regional media on board prior to working with legislators. Declare a "crisis." Organize a media tour, even if it involves only the local weekly and the nearest daily.

(2) See if your local Congressman and Senators can have their field representatives attend. (It is an election year.) Shucks, go for broke -- invite the Congressman and Senators! And state legislators, too. Sadly, the money dispensers often do not respond unless you have a "crisis on your hands."

(3) Don't overlook getting the local educational community involved. Seek the active support of your local school superintendents, the teachers union, and administrators' association. They often already "have the ear" of elected officials.

Be prepared with visitor counts, particularly school groups. Note how your facility specifically supports the state approved curriculum and the local economy. But, whatever, be realistic.

Best wishes. It looks like your small group has saved something really unique!

http://www.rtms-movietrains.com
amiller@rtms-movietrains.com