> No, not privately owned anymore.

OK, I'll be serious this time. Somebody brought up this subject earlier but I can't find it now.

IRM has a general policy against storing privately owned equipment, since we had some problems in the past. I believe there's just one car (the King Cotton) in the collection still in private hands; it's been on the property at least 30 years and was grandfathered in, I suppose. Most of the privately owned equipment has been donated or sold to the museum over the years.

However, I don't know if this is actually an official rule. One can imagine circumstances in which a long-term loan could be beneficial to the museum as long as the terms are well-understood and agreed on in advance. Kevin should be able to clarify this. How many organizations have such a policy, either de facto or de jure?

Kevin-

Unlike some, my comment wasn't meant to attack; it was pure interest as to her current status. My guess is the price is closer to 2 1/2 mil, which is what I understand it took to get her sister back in running order. Then again, I think 6323 probably was and is in a bit better shape than 6325. Lord knows, when I saw her in Battle Creek as a kid, if someone had told me then that she would run again, I would have called them a liar!

Being in the museum side myself, I don't think it fair to criticize unless I have personal knowledge of the organization and its practices. Sure, I have read a great deal about IRM over the years, but I have yet to get there. I sincerely hope to in the future. Thanks again for the update!

TJG

> No, not privately owned anymore. As to
> "more than a static display,"
> sure--got half a mill or so? Like any large
> steam loco, the overhaul process is both
> time- and money-intensive. I'd love to see
> it run (though not as much as our CB&Q
> Hudson, perhaps), but until someone (a)
> donates the funds and (b) provides a good
> reason to do it, such as a guaranteed place
> for regular running, I wouldn't hold my
> breath.


Port Huron Museum

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org

Mr Neubauer and Allan, I have donated money to mid continent in the past, although from my last look at mid continent I dont know where it was used, and I even tried to help out once. I went in to the engine house and asked what I could do to help with c&nw 1385, and was told there was nothing I could do, that all the work it needed was for professionals and that mid continent couldnt afford to do it. I didnt even see anyperson working on any of the passnger cars in the yard.
Based on what has been said on this web page maybe things have changed, so Ill try again. I hope things are different and people are working on equipment.

NW

cnwguy@juno.com

Thank You for your donations cnwguy, I assure you they were used for good purposes. As far as helping out, my guess about your experience in the engine house was because the shop forces were probably working on another engine at that time. Ask to help working on whatever the current project is, and I'm sure they can use your help. As for passenger car restoration, most work is done in the car shop, not in the yard. Poke your head in the car shop when you're there, and I'm sure there is something you can help with. I hope you (and anyone else who wants to) can get to Mid-Continent soon, and be able to help with the restoration of some of the equipment there. Your help would be greatly appreciated by all.

Allan


ddg14@attbi.com

Unsigned letters attacking worthwhile and generally successful Museum and Preservation operations indeed are useless. Well reasoned, intelligent discussion of organizational goals and activities, particularly from active and contributing members, should carry much more weight than an anonymous blow torch. Railroad preservationists are usually an intelligent lot, often including engineers and business administrators, and have carefully considered viewpoints based in education and experience.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

> No, not privately owned anymore. As to
> "more than a static display,"
> sure--got half a mill or so? Like any large
> steam loco, the overhaul process is both
> time- and money-intensive. I'd love to see
> it run (though not as much as our CB&Q
> Hudson, perhaps), but until someone (a)
> donates the funds and (b) provides a good
> reason to do it, such as a guaranteed place
> for regular running, I wouldn't hold my
> breath.
I am not holding my breath on her, but I think that she is my favorite of IRM's collection. I am very glad that she is now inside. I have no knowledge of her mechanical condition, but she does look to be in about the best condition of the big engines at IRM. If I remember correctly, she was one of the last 4-8-4s running in regular service back in 61? The U3b's with their all weather cab and the Vanderbuilt tender had great lines. Kevin, was there any progress to the drop pit and the wheel lathe? Any news on the 428? Thanks for any reply!
Steve


Lead_sled7@hotmail.com

> I am not holding my breath on her, but I
> think that she is my favorite of IRM's
> collection. I am very glad that she is now
> inside. I have no knowledge of her
> mechanical condition, but she does look to
> be in about the best condition of the big
> engines at IRM. If I remember correctly, she
> was one of the last 4-8-4s running in
> regular service back in 61? The U3b's with
> their all weather cab and the Vanderbuilt
> tender had great lines. Kevin, was there any
> progress to the drop pit and the wheel
> lathe? Any news on the 428? Thanks for any
> reply!
> Steve

We're plodding along on both the drop table and the lathe. Both are close to ready, subject to the usual demands for labor on other stuff. As for 428, the boiler is done, the smokebox front is about to go back on, the cab is being rebuilt, and we're definitely at the stage of more parts going on than coming off (a major change from the last 15 years or so...). She'll need some wheel work, of course, and all the bearings will need to be inspected and overhauled, but the toughest parts are behind us (I hope).


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

If you read down in this thread you will see some of the things about funding that we often don't want to know. Like the random nature of some "out of the blue" funds that come from being nice to visitors and the strings that are often attached to money. Mid-Continent got some funds specifically to restore certain items and were not free to divert it to buildings, no matter how much they are needed. All of us face this type of donation from time to time, if we are lucky. Capital improvement funds with no strings attached are harder to get. Sometimes the strings are too much to bear and the offer has to be declined. And even if someone leaves a large chunk of money to you is doesn't mean that the rest of the family will not contest the will and tie the funds up for years. We have a situation like that now. So don't be so hard on them for making the decisions they have without knowing all the facts, and remember how good a job they are doing on the wooden cars they are able to restore.

Museum of Transportation
rdgoldfede@aol.com

I am getting a bit tired of the sniping too. Mid Continent is setting a high standard of quality in their wooden car work with volunteers as well as with craftsmen like Glenn Guerra. Prhaps their site suffers from a not uncommon situation in early museums - a lot of member owned stuff around in various states of preservation - but on the whole they are to be commended for the work they have done on their wooden car projects.

Having been through the process of dealing with privately owned stuff in museums recently I can attest to its resolution being a no win situation. There is a lot of unleasantness in dealing with expectations that may be a decade old and dreams that will never materialize. I wish them the best of luck in resolving their situation.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net