The museum has not yet agreed to the contract extension. That will be decided by the board of directors, probably in the next week or two. They may yet agree to the extension, but they have not yet done so.

The city took possession of 2719 (well, ownership, not physical possession)

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/08/02-city-of-eau-claire-buys-back-soo-line-no-2719

I hope the museum can redeem 2719. I believe the city want more money on the sale that my opinion.

- Eau Claire Official


Dum-dum-dum-dum.

I had no idea that the Wisconsin economy was so strong that these little local towns had money to burn on these hobbies.

That sounds like a cost estimate using 1985 prices. For those aspirations, they should add a zero to their fundraising goal.

I am the only to believe this situation is not the same has the 261 but just look alike

Don’t understand what you are saying.

The 261 was resold after it was returned to its original owner. The situation of the 2719 makes me think the same thing

It was never physically returned. The ownership remained with the museum until the Friends of 261 / Railroading Heritage of Midwest America purchased it from the museum.

.

The legalities are obviously different but some of it appears very similar too or could be depending on how things go. The Nat RR museum in GB had ownership and would not negotiate a workable lease with the #261 gang. So when the #261 folks said "ok we won't renew lease come get your engine" then Green Bay museum crunched the numbers and came to the reality that moving it was way more than they could afford. So they came back to the table with realistic numbers and got out from under the responsibility of ownership. This was my understanding anyway. The similarities are coming to the realization of the cost of retrieval and storage once you get it home. We will see how this plays out maybe the city can raise the money maybe not. The locomotive is in a good spot regardless from outward appearances.

Now PA, TX and the L&A #503 had it much easier with little transportation costs involved. You add up all the transportation costs and couple that to the cost of placement in a park and protective/eye pleasing display area. Renegotiating a lease or ownership becomes more possible. We shall see. Regards, John.

I sent a persuasive letter to the entirety of their City Council to reconsider their desicion. I originally sent it to A town in Michigan with the same name by accident! :P

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/4596289-return-trip-doubtful-locomotive-2719

SO what next???

Its look like the Council has never raise the fund and now look the city would retain ownership of the locomotive and tender, but allow it to be leased by a museum and require that it be properly stored and maintained with hopes to get it in working order. A museum get a leased locomotive??

Really what a waste of time by this Councilman



That remind me the milw 261 case now $$$$$$$$$

Well, this is sure an instance of "Your Tax Dollars at Work!". My bet is that the Soo 2719 will end up staying in Duluth because Eau Claire will not have the stomach to pay the half million dollars that will be needed to move and house it.

As for the pipe dream of the city performing the required 1472 and operating the engine, I can see the City paying consultants another $100,000 to look into the feasibility of a tourist railroad. After all, it's only the taxpayer's money, right?