It has been well over a year since an auction was held by the University of Akron at Quaker Square. If anyone knows of details, it would be good to know. Perhaps a bunch of minor things, but it would have made sense to me that this board would have been informed. The general public must not come to this discussion page, when thinking about old train stuff.
http://www.uakron.edu/aux/trainauction.dot

I wasn't aware that a board dealing with historic preservation issues needed to follow every little detail of railfan, ephemera, and other auctions. There would be a great many entries, most not of particular interest to people actually responsible for historic preservation, if that were so.

EDIT -- BUT... this turns out to be different (see following link) from what I had thought it was. It might have been a good idea to put the 'heads-up' on this auction out for anyone in the preservation community to see. It might still be a good idea to inform someone at the U of A Auxiliary Enterprises of this board, perhaps make them a 'posting' member, so as to provide a notice and link, and perhaps description of some of the major assets as they come up for disposition.

I reverse most of my previous comment under these revised circumstances.

I should have included this link. the memorabilia was associated with the original Quaker Square facility, so it may have included more significant artifacts.
http://www.ohio.com/news/railroad-history-up-for-sale-1.204020

So if your are in the process of dissolving a collection of artifacts from an abandoned museum project, why not come to RYPN?

Olin -

From reading the story, it sounds like there will be future auctions including items as large as airplanes. I know that at one time there was (is?) a former CB&Q 0-6-0 there at Quaker Square. Also, perhaps some other railroad items.

Les

I was at the auction and bought four ex-Amtrak dining car chairs for a very reasonable sum. They were from the early '80's, the burnt orange and dark blue upholstery scheme, before Amtrak went to fixed seating.

Most of what was sold were the leavings of Mac Lowry's Railways of America Collection. I was told most of the really good models had been previously sold. There were artifacts, like baggage carts, oil cans, track tools, some lanterns, etc. Some of it went for far more than could be had at a train show. By the time they got to the ex-PRR dining car chairs, the auction was starting to wind down. They also sold off the extensive collection of circus models that Mac had on display at his place, but I don't think were ever prominently displayed at Quaker Square.

I also understood that indeed some of the rolling stock, including the CB&Q 0-6-0 were going to eventually be sold off, but have no idea when. My understanding is that the switcher suffered freeze damage to the boiler and piping, being left out with water in it in the winter before Mac got it to Ohio. I don't know how true that is.

Perhaps the worst loss of the whole collection is the grand scale Ottaway Aero Train, which according to Grand Scale Magazine was the first of only five ever built. Only the locomotive and first car are intact and displayed in an atrium off the parking lot. The rest of the cars were cut in half lengthwise and used as wall art in a passage in the mall.

There's a CB&Q 0-6-0 reportedly in bad mechanical shape but good cosmetic. And a little german 0-4-0T Painted to look like thomas.

I think this board was notified of the sale. Looking at the pictures for the auction it looked like alot of stuff that I wasn't really interested in, at least at my age now. Back when I was a child that was the only place I ever wanted to go for my birthday and I'd spend hours there. They're good memories but it's sad now that it's gone.

Quaker Square has been discussed here. Here's a thread from 2007 regarding the 0-6-0 .

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24454&hilit=+quaker+square+

Wesley

Wesley -

Looks like this thread actually dates back to 2007. In any event, it looks like there was talk of the University of Akron disposing of the 0-6-0 that long ago. I concur that IRM might be a good place for her.

Les