Does anyone have more information on this?

http://www.kentucky.com/2012/08/14/2299 ... e-old.html

It's not permanent display is it; or is it just a more publicly viewable storage area?... so to speak.

It says the locomotive is refurbished, meaning operable. This building is just where it's being housed but it's viewable from the outside.

That's what I thought, just wanted to be sure.

Well, there's certainly enough flaming that occasionally occurs on this board, so I guess it's now my turn:

I hate this. It makes me want to vomit. It makes me sick.

Why??

My opinion is that there is plenty of american historic railroad "stuff" that is rusting into oblivion, here in Kentucky, and everywhere else. With that in mind, this Chinese "imposter" is getting the top notch treatment, with "look at me" advertising in mind. I feel that it does not deserve such treatment, especially with a false "Old Smokey" nomenclature.

Yes, it's his engine, and he can do as he pleases, and he is doing it. This is not meant to be historic preservation, it is pure advertising. Still, as a preservationist, I'm not pleased.
It's hard enough to educate the general public, and putting this into the mix doesn't help.

Forget WalMart, we're now getting our history from China.

Just my opinion. Off of my soapbox now.

It would be nice to convince Rick to donate a similar shed to either museum in Kentucky to help preserve their heritage too. He has been rather helpful in the past. Something one must remember is that he is drawing the RIGHT attention to railroading and steam and this by doing so, he could be potentially bringing money.

Joe

Mark - A locomotive should not be political object and not judged by the politics of nations. Just not good railroading. Locomotives do not vote, or make policy, they just work. Lets just hope more buildings like this will be built for other locomotives exposed to the elements, to preserved for future generations. David Notarius, An American in Europe!

Rick donate a building to BGRM or KRM..............excuse me while I go laugh my ass off.

Rick "helps" when theres profit to be made or when a town has something useful to him. Since New Haven isn't on an R.J. Corman line and the Versailles line is the redheaded step-child of the Corman railroads, don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

Heck the only thing thats come out of this whole "PR Steam Program" with Old Smokey there is that Rick's promised every little flag stop town along the old road where he needed to do some major work that they were going to be the layover point for the fictional Lexington dinner train so'd they would clear whatever he wanted to do without questions.

To agree with Mark's line of thinking Rick could have hired Wasatch or someone to fix up #11 sitting in Nicholasville and get it running for close to the same money he spent on getting "Old Smokey" shipped over here and running. Not to mention as small as it is it would have been much easier to maintain, store, and display. Plus when you flip it over it dosen't say "Made in China".

Any company thats truly interested in educating the public with steam has to 1. Actually run the thing every once in awhile and 2. accept the fact that a steam program is going to cost you money no matter what. Rick seems to be trying to run a P.R. program that in the end turns a profit which boils down to making alot of promises, throwing up some flash for the public, and not running the engine that costs money to operate.

Your anger and ire is not only misinformed but just plain wrong.

RJ Corman is a privately owned corporation. His trains operate to make a profit for him, the owner, and any other investors he may have. His trains, even the dinner train, do not operate for your aesthetic enjoyment, or so that you may get some "cool" shots. Mr. Corman has made a fortune providing services for customers willing to pay for them, whether it be derailment cleanup, track construction/rehabilitation, short line rail service, or rail car leasing.

While corporations can be engaged in historical preservation (See Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern), it is not their primary goal, and we in railway preservation do ourselves a major disservice when we "expect" private railroad companies to give us money so we can play train. We should be thankful that there are the Union Pacifics and Norfolk Southerns out there, and not be bitter or angry when other private railroad companies do not do our desired bidding in railway preservation.

If you are not pleased as a preservationist, then you should reserve your anger and direct it to railway preservation groups, not RJ Corman. If you are concerned with the state of railway preservation in Kentucky or elsewhere, your fault and ire should lie with those organizations and their failings. The failings to properly preserve and maintain historic railway equipment, fulfill their educational commitment, and engage in fundraising from individuals, foundations, and corporations belong to those preservation groups alone. They are not the failings of RJ Corman, and his decision to spend his money, earned from providing services companies pay for, however he sees fit.

Get off your soapbox, as RJ Corman has no obligation to help any railway preservation organization, and as long as they have the same entitled mentality you have, they will never see any help.

EDIT: By the way, Mr. Corman's companies have provided valuable support to a deserving (as in well-run) railway preservation group in Kentucky. His companies provided free labor and moving services to the group in Bowling Green when they installed their display cars at the L&N depot. They basically lifted 4 passenger cars off of the adjacent CSX mainline and set them down about 30 feet away on a panel track, built by Corman crews. He also did this to the faux L&N E unit. My guess is that the group in Bowling Green put forth a very good proposal, and included planning, and got the community on their side. I doubt they sat around and twiddled their thumbs waiting for Mr. Corman to show up, like the Monopoly Man, with large bags with dollar bill signs on them to drop off. Such an expectation is comical and shows a lack of maturity on your ideas of how non-profits should raise money.

Thinking we know better how to run his companies and even his PR program is ridiculous, as I think he sleeps on a bed of money every night, and last time I checked, I do not. Not bad for a guy that started out with a backhoe and sleeping in his truck.

Then again, since he hasn't helped Mr. Jordan's or Boilerwash's specific causes, he should be derided.. Grow up, attitudes like that don't garner support from potential donors.

Well said Mr. Wilkins, well said!!

Ross Rowland

If Mr. Rowland and I agreee on something....... Well, December 2012 is around the corner...

Seriously, I didn't mean to come across too strongly. I've seen that attitude expressed by Mr. Jordan in the leadership of several railway preservation organizations. It's a bad fundraising strategy, and a bad additude in general. You should be thankful that your organization can garner donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. You shouldn't be bitter that some rich person, whether they are in the RR industry or not, doesn't give you unfettered access to their fortune.

You should treat donors to your non-profit like you do investors to a for-proft. They are "investing" in the organization. If you think of it like that, with specifics, goals, budgets, etc., I think you will go a lot further. The other method, sitting around and waiting for the Monopoly Man to show up, is just a waste of your time.

What in the world makes you think you were in any way making your point too strongly? I think you were not only dead-on, but far too accomodating to the idea that any idiotic opinion is valid based on its simple existance. Let's get tougher....

dave

And when we all wake up on January, 1, 2012 I'll just sit back and laugh :)

To put my thoughts simply (and for the sake of time), does YOUR railroad build a engine shed designed to go in a downtown area with the intent of displaying your active equipment. And does it have glass sides so everyone and their mother can see your equipment while driving by? I think not! R.J. Corman is forever more marked down as a community partner in my book. I wonder if they are willing to share blueprints though.... You can standardize on a building and make equipment more visible all while protecting said piece(s) from the elements.

Start laughin' it up, pal! :P

Dave, you are probably right. I just didn't want people to say I was engaging in a personal attack. The difference, as I pointed out to someone recently is this: Me calling your idea stupid is not a personal attack. Me calling you stupid is a personal attack.