Recent news reports indicate that the Middletown & New Jersey RR was recently sold by the Rassmussen family to a major online freight shipper. Does anybody know what will happen to ex-Bath & Hammondsport 2-6-0 No. 11, stored on the M&NJ?

Out of curiosity, what news reports did you get this info from?

> Recent news reports indicate that the
> Middletown & New Jersey RR was recently
> sold by the Rassmussen family to a major
> online freight shipper. Does anybody know
> what will happen to ex-Bath &
> Hammondsport 2-6-0 No. 11, stored on the
> M&NJ?


cvitz@hotmail.com

From a trusted source ;-)

> Out of curiosity, what news reports did you
> get this info from?

I have to doubt the validity of that information. I belong to a group that has a speeder stored in the new enginehouse and several others out on the line. A few people from the group met with Mr. R. son on Saturday (6/5) so we could get the speeder out of the enginehouse. There was some discussion about a possible new customer but no mention was made of a sale of the property. I am sure something would have been said since it may mean the permanent removal of our equipment from the property.

Since last week, Mr. R has been in the hospital in grave condition and reports on the M&NJ Yahoo Group say he is not expected to last to the end of this week.

Back in January of 2004 there was a serious effort by a potential shipper to purchase the line, but the deal fell through because in the end Mr. R did not want to sell. That customer went elsewhere when Mr. R. quoted him too high a price to deliver the rail cars. Mr. R. is 2/3 owner, there is another 1/3 owner that is not involved with the day to day business of the line. Can't believe Mr. R. would have changed his mind and decided to sell.

Only time will tell what the future holds for the line, but it has been a survivor. Hopefully it will continue that way.

Chris Vitz

> From a trusted source ;-)


cvitz@hotmail.com