Save the Lion Gardiner

Reading T1 2124 · **Posted:** Sun Jul 12, 2015 9:39 am

With less than two weeks to go what is the news on this? How much have we got on non-electronic donations? And of course the biggest question, do we still have the oppurtunity to save it?

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

A shot of the car was posted to RR Picture Archives two days ago...

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4242022

Reading T1 2124 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:23 pm

That is fantastic! Can't wait to see her with my own eyes!

Reading T1 2124 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:36 pm

Save the Lion Gardiner's Facebook page was just updated. It reads:

Quote:

An Update on the Lion Gardiner Effort:

Please allow me to again thank our donors for their support of our campaign to Save the Lion Gardiner. Their generous donations have given credence to the effort to save an iconic landmark of railroad history many folks had forgotten about, never knew about, or simply given up on. Positive press in national publications has spread the story of this campaign and the car. Encouraged by our efforts, an angel has stepped up and agreed to bear the full cost of moving the car. However, the car will not be coming to the Colebrookdale. Rather, it will become part of a fleet of other cars undergoing restoration. While we were excited to restore the car here at the Colebrookdale, the new owner has a long track record of successful restoration and the resources to bring about a good outcome.

Last week, we contacted each of our donors with this news and given then access to contact us directly. We thank them again for their support. Let's celebrate the good that has come from it!

Many good projects are underway here on the Colebrookdale, including the restoration of three heavyweight passenger cars. We hope you will consider supporting that work, too.

Sincerely,
Committee to Save the Lion Gardiner

At least its safe. I'll speculate maybe Strasburg. Anyone else want to take a guess? (Still a shame it won't be coming to Boyertown)

jmlaboda · Updated 8/9/17 with 8,402 new links

Iowa Pacific would be my bet.

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3011

Quote:

Reading T1 2124 wrote:

Rather, it will become part of a fleet of other cars undergoing restoration. While we were excited to restore the car here at the Colebrookdale, the new owner has a long track record of successful restoration and the resources to bring about a good outcome.

At least its safe. I'll speculate maybe Strasburg. Anyone else want to take a guess? (Still a shame it won't be coming to Boyertown)

OK, purely a guess, but "a fleet of other cars undergoing restoration" doesn't sound like Strasburg, as most (all?) of their cars would are already restored. I know they do excellent work, and routinely shop the cars, but I still don't think of that as a fleet undergoing restoration.

So, I'd put 50 chips on "Iowa Pacific" and maybe 5 chips on the ELDCPS. Let's see how I do...

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:38 pm

2500 chips on Iowa Pacific, from this rambler and gambler.

Howard P.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Jul 14, 2015 8:31 pm

Bobharbison wrote:

OK, purely a guess, but "a fleet of other cars undergoing restoration" doesn't sound like Strasburg, as most (all?) of their cars would are already restored. I know they do excellent work, and routinely shop the cars, but I still don't think of that as a fleet undergoing restoration.

Just as a point, they have SEVERAL "cocooned" cars, including a twelve-wheeled one that Brother Anderson just noted rolled into the shop for a refurb........

Given the "pinball" project, I soon expect to see sleeping accommodations offered soon. So, who knows? <:-)

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

Lion Gardiner is now on dollies and ready for its next voyage west to Illinois, after being stored in Kingston since 1987:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=226743

EH

Delexrax · **Joined:** Thu Oct 29, 2015 6:21 pm **Posts:** 26

Do we know where the Lion Gardiner is going to end up? Is it going to end up with Iowa Pacific as they sure would take good care of it (After the lengthy and no doubt expensive restoration and upgrades)

Termite7 · **Joined:** Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:29 pm **Posts:** 397

I hear that the car is going to the Iowa Pacific.

Now...keep in mind that Iowa Pacific has yet to restore any cars. Every car they operate came to them already "restored" with IP just working on the cars as they need attention. Or they reconfigure already operable cars (like the Hoosier State coaches) to suit their needs. They seem to have an ever growing fleet of old cars that are just sitting in storage. The Coffee Creek got some attention when they attempted to raise money for restoration but that did not go anywhere and the car has been sitting for...2-3-4? years.

Another notable project undertaken by the IP was the Poplar Summit...which was a complete car and is now a derelict pile of rusty parts. T7 does not like seeing old passenger cars neglected and ruined. It makes him sad.

What is IP's history concerning "preservation"? Have they honestly preserved anything? Do they really intend to preserve anything? Is a shiny paint job considered "restoration"?

T7

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

Lion Gardiner departed Kingston today after 28 years in storage. It is headed west. We are happy it is being saved, but equally happy to have it leave the CMRR where it had become a liability. Many thanks to the IP for making this happen.

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=226743

EH

eehiv · **Joined:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 8:54 pm **Posts:** 1336

on its way out of town:

http://photos.greatrails.net/s/?p=227382