Sounds like 2719 might be ending up just like the Frisco 1522...

http://www.wqow.com/story/28163394/2015 ... oming-home

I'd love to find some contact info, I know of a few groups that'd love to have her for $1, including myself!

I don't think the group that originally restored the 2719 is very active any more. Losing their home in Altoona, WI didn't help in that regard. And, recall that this engine was restored in the heyday of excursions over the Wisconsin Southern RR, which disappeared into CN not long after. I know the six ex-CP coaches they owned are all now down in Dennison, OH, and I think the 2719 group has disposed of them. Is there anyone on this site that can comment for the status of the group that originally restored the 2719?

Chris.

The C P coaches were purchased by the Hocking Valley Scenic in 2014 and should be in Nelsonville, Ohio now.

Not real current information, but the group that restored the 2719 was an outgrowth of the Chippewa Valley Railroad Association, the folks who run the miniature steam train in Eau Claire's Carson Park. They also moved an interlocking tower to the park, and were responsible for the maintenance on the 2719 when it was a static display. The steam restoration was done by the Locomotive and Tower Preservation Fund, but IIRC, there was a lot of overlap between the groups. The miniature train and tower are still in the park, and somebody is trying to get the City of Eau Claire to fund bringing the 2719 back, although it doesn't sound like that effort is going too well. I'm sure that many of the people involved with the 2719 restoration have moved on after the plans for a permanent maintenance facility in Altoona, WI came to naught, but the group that controls the lease of the engine still exists. Sorry, but I don't have any present day contacts.

And a minor correction... the heyday of trips was on the Wisconsin Central Ltd., which is now part of CN. Wisconsin and Southern is a separate operation, which has been quite friendly to the group that has just again put Soo 1003 back in service. Unfortunately, no one seems to be able to come up with insurance for passenger trips.

What is to stop a private individual from approaching the 2719's owners and asking to buy it for $1 USD, intending to turn it over to the LSRM soon after purchase?

I'd much rather see it stay at Duluth, or perhaps IRM. Some larger museum or group that can properly care for the locomotive until there are opportunities to do the 15 year service. This was too much of an undertaking to just put it back in a park.

Steve

Yes, that is an older story. Negotiations are continuing so don't write off 2719 yet.

Yes! :-) But what is the "big condition" Eau Claire gave the museum? I am not a Trains subscriber at present and thus could not read the whole article.

It's complicated....

I seriously doubt that the city will have any interest in owning a locomotive that is located in Duluth, MN once they find out the costs involved in moving it back to EauClaire. The Duluth museum has already made its decision on which locomotive to bring back into service, so it will certainly not sign any agreement that makes it responsible for the cost of returning the locomotive to EauClaire. The cost of moving the locomotive back to EauClaire for display will be the big disincentive to the city. The repurchase clause is pure politics, meant to get the agreement passed by the city council.

Why does the Eau Claire city council feel that they should reserve a three year right to repurchase 2719? They do not need to worry about building a display building now that the LSRM has it, a structure that would need to be built if they suddenly got the urge to buy the engine back.

I'm a bit confused here. If the Locomotive & Tower Preservation Fund owned the 2719, why did they have to sell the locomotive to Eau Claire rather than just sell it direct to the museum in Duluth? Was there a clause in the original agreement that they had to offer it back to Eau Claire?

Thanks for any clarification.


Les

Here's a quotation from the TRAINS Newswire article that appeared a couple of days ago. It kind of explains what is going on and why the repurchase clause is there.

"On Tuesday, City Council members said they wanted to give local groups more time to develop viable proposals to restore and return the engine to the Eau Claire area. While no such proposals have currently been put forward, council members indicated they had heard from constituents that they wanted more time to do so.

As a result, two council members offered an amendment that called for the preservation fund and the museum to continue their lease agreement for three to five years to allow local groups more time to return the engine to the city. However, Eau Claire City Attorney Stephen Nick pointed out there were several legal problems with the wording of the amendment. The council tabled discussion, and Nick quickly conferred with Lake Superior Executive Director, Ken Buhler, who says the museum could not agree to a lease. Instead, Nick and Buehler agreed to the three-year buy back arrangement. The council then resumed discussion and approved the resolution and amendment by unanimous vote.

The Board of Directors of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum must still approve the agreement before it is final."

So, given what the locals want to TRY to do vis-a-vis operating the locomotive locally, we have the three year window. Good luck to any Wisconsin group trying to operate steam on either the CP or the UP.

Have they determined there's a market capable of supporting an operating steam locomotive in the area or a venue on which to put it to use? I'm not familiar with Eau Claire.......

dave