The full details on this will be forthcoming later, but as someone called in to help consult with this, I have been given permission to leak this much so far:

A yet-unnamed individual or group in central Maryland has announced the formation of what is tentatively being called the North American Railway Preservation Expedition Foundation.

This foundation, to be led by a yet-unnamed rail preservationist and a hand-selected panel of authorities in the rail preservation field along with several financial consultants, will use as seed money an anticipated annuity from a multi-state fundraising consortium, using proceeds randomly allocated from a nationally-consolidated voluntary tax on mathematics deficiency. The final accounting of this annuity has yet to be made clear, but it is expected that the foundation could garner as much as $213 million in a twenty-year span, a share of a three-way division of a major, record-setting grant from the multi-state tax consortium. However, possible "windfall" taxes could reduce the planned proceeds considerably; the foundation's founder, in conjunction with attorneys, is exploring the legal possibilities of reducing or eliminating the potential tax burden by directing all proceeds to the proposed non-profit.

The foundation expects to offer "challenge grants" to non-profit rail preservation groups meeting certain criteria, including (but not limited to) clearly outlined strategic planning; realistic, practical, and acceptable goals upon completion of the projects; and support from local communities and support groups.

"For far too long, we've had too many prominent people in this field accuse us of being 'nattering nabobs of negativity'," said a spokesperson for the principal partner and interim leader. "We're saying fine, enough is enough. Here's the seed money. You have a good idea? Show us that it passes muster and critical examination by a panel of your peers and superiors. If it does, money won't be your excuse."

The foundation expects to spend its first two to three years collecting proceeds and planning the specifics of the financial outlays. However, two projects have already been issued notice that they will potentially become immediate beneficiaries of the program. In spite of the "North American" part of the planned foundation's name, the principal has announced an immediate pledge offer to the National Railway Museum of York, England, aimed at speeding to completion the restoration of London & North Eastern Railway A3 Pacific 4472, Flying Scotsman, in time for the planned haul of the Olympic Torch Relay, to be paid off as a promissory note as soon as enough funds are liquid. "This grant is being offered immediately in memory of the recently deceased locomotive's saviour, Alan Pegler," said the representative. "We're sure he would smile down with pride and honour upon the sight of his beloved steed marking such a historic run." An additional offer has also been made to the NRM to assure that the two North American-owned representatives of the LNER A4 class, Dominion of Canada and Dwight D. Eisenhower, are returned to their Canadian and U.S. homes in serviceable condition after their planned trips to Britain to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1938 speed record set by sister loco Mallard. The representative has asked that the possibility of finding and restoring a LNER teak carriage to return with each of the two A4s be explored as well.

Although the foundation's founder has pledged that it will consider all proposed grant application on a case-by-case, practicality basis, it has apparently already expressed one specific agenda--the long-term acquisition and restoration of the East Broad Top Railroad. "For too long, the proper preservation of this railroad has been repeatedly derailed by the apparent mistrust of certain parties in government-run or funded entities. We are offering a realistic alternative. We are offering to enter into negotiations with the current ownership of the East Broad Top and negotiate a long-term plan that guarantees the survival of the entire system as a national treasure, as well as the potential for restoration of the track and infrastructure and even replication of the original artifacts so that future generations will be able to enjoy the experience of the Broad Top coal region without wearing out and destroying the original relics." The representative was adamant that a proper long-term plan would have to be created, perhaps loosely based on earlier "Studies of Alternatives," and that matching funding would have to come from other sources in a formula yet to be negotiated.

When asked if the foundation might consider finally building a replica of a New York Central Hudson, the iconic "missing locomotive" of North American rail preservation, the representative said "I sincerely doubt it, to be honest. For one thing, we still haven't heard of a practical proposal regarding access to a main line for such a replica. Second, the winner--I mean, the founder is apparently a PRR fan with a '1361' belt buckle left over from the 1987 restoration of that loco, so....." The representative left the room whistling and looking at the ceiling.

Further details are expected to be announced at a press conference outside a 7-Eleven on Liberty Road in Randallstown, Md. today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/peo ... story.html

A place-holder URL has been established: http://www.narpef.org

Very good Mr. Mitchell. I was going to ask if you were one of the "lucky ones". Well played, sir, and very believable!

I was waiting for an address in Nigeria to send application fees to.

I have heard that another project to be funded is the creation of a sanctuary for unwanted rail equipment. This involves acquiring land in a remote location in one of the desert regions of the West, preferably on or near an existing railroad. Track would be laid and security fencing installed. In a later phase, shelter would be built for the more fragile items.

The sanctuary would be open to pieces of rail equipment that people would like to see preserved, but no existing musum has the resources or interest in perserving. It would also be open to equipment that is currently owned by museums, but is deemed to be surplus by these organizations.