Massive fire at National Capital Trolley Museum

Frank Hicks · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2003 2:21 pm

At 2:00am this morning there was a fire at the National Capital Trolley Museum in Wheaton, Maryland. A link to a news story is below. It says that eight cars were destroyed, and total damage is estimated at $10 million. No injuries are reported.

Frank Hicks

http://www.newschannel8.net/news/stories/0903/104331.html
F-Hicks@wiu.edu

Erik Ledbetter · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2003 2:45 pm

This just about breaks my heart. This has been the worst year imaginable for railroad preservation in Maryland. I am in shock.

eledbetter@rypn.org

Richard Jenkins · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2003 4:03 pm

Not just Maryland, it seems like this has been a big year for natural disasters at railroad preservation sites all over the place this year:

Heavy snow collapses the B&O Museum roof
Tornado destroys the Kinzua Viaduct
Wildfire destroys Myra Canyon trestles
Floods wash out the Wilmington & Western (again)

Am I missing any? And now this... depressing to say the least.

rjenkins@railfan.net

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2003 5:14 pm

Two factors to consider:

1) there was considerable thunderstorm activity in the region last night.

2) there has been a long string of unsolved arsons in the Montgomery County, Md. region lately.

Lightning, arsonist, or otherwise, this is indeed a tragedy. The crews at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum send their sincerest sympathies.

LNER4472-NOSPAM-@bcpl.net

Jan K. Lorenzen · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2003 7:06 pm

> Two factors to consider:

> 1) there was considerable thunderstorm
> activity in the region last night.

> 2) there has been a long string of unsolved
> arsons in the Montgomery County, Md. region
> lately.

> Lightning, arsonist, or otherwise, this is
> indeed a tragedy. The crews at the Baltimore
> Streetcar Museum send their sincerest
> sympathies.

This is a sad day indeed. My condolences go out to NatCap, friends and supporters at this time of unbelievable loss. Thank God no one was inside, got hurt or worse.
I am stunned.

Kevin Gillespie · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2003 8:30 am

This news is a horrible way to start my morning. 2003 will go down as the year from hell for railroad preservation in this area. While I am delighted that nobody was inside, I am deeply saddened by the irreplaceable loss of so much of Washington's tractio heritage. My heartfelt sympathies to the staff and volunteers of NCTM.

kevin.r.gillespie@verizon.net

Stu Slaymaker · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2003 11:21 pm

> This news is a horrible way to start my
> morning. 2003 will go down as the year from
> hell for railroad preservation in this area.
> While I am delighted that nobody was inside,
> I am deeply saddened by the irreplaceable
> loss of so much of Washington's tractio
> heritage. My heartfelt sympathies to the
> staff and volunteers of NCTM.

And mine as well. But some good news is this.: From the Washington Post photo, the 1053 is gutted but looks restorable. Let's start passing the hat! I will put up the first $100 if for nothing save a restoration for static display. PLEASE, NCTM, DON'T SCRAP THE 1053, WITH ENOUGH DONATIONS, ANYTHING CAN BE FIXED!

Friend of the 1053

Stu Slaymaker
Kansas City MO

sbs5cats@kc.rr.com