UPDATE:

GN Ranch Diner 1244 has just arrived at its new home--not at the MTM, but at the Wisconsin & Great Northern:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews ... _railroad/

https://www.facebook.com/nick.turinetti ... vP6PHBDzSl

So, will MTM be refunding the money they raised to move it (more than $12k): viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42557&p=282934#p282934

That's a beautiful car. I'm glad it was saved but too bad MTM couldn't get their ducks in order to get it.

Best of luck to anyone trying to get a refund. MTM's Executive Director Scott Hippert has made it sound quite difficult, publicly stating through MTM social media channels that any donors can request a refund utilizing the letter they got from MTM after their donation was made.

What a bunch of BS. MTM knows exactly how much was donated by each donor, they're just choosing to make things difficult since their books are a joke. Records of donations were kept down to the penny and the letter of who donated by the previous treasurer, and anything that was submitted through the GoFundMe page was paid out directly to MTM as they were the benefitting non-profit of my GFM page fundraiser.

After the illegal and ill-advised removal of most of the MTM Executive Committee / Board Members on January 6, 2022 - I warned MTM that I would do everything in my ability to make sure they did NOT end up with the 1244. I made sure the donor knew from both sides what was happening, and he made the decision to not donate the car to MTM.

What's even more entertaining is that MTM's stooges that took over attempted to convince the owner otherwise, and they failed. If I were a donor or railroad history buff, MTM is one of the last places I would ever consider giving anything to...let alone a piece of GN railroad history. The place is currently a joke, no matter what their board or Executive Director try to portray in the public eye.

I miss working with my colleagues who left the museum the same time I did. However, I will NEVER support that place while the "old farts" are making such depressing decisions. I do feel bad for them spending a ton of money on repainting the 325, 1096, and two other donated railcars when they can barely keep a roof over their heads.

So instead of trying to get donor dollars that will never come for their roundhouse restoration project, they're trying to get taxpayers to fund it.

https://www.facebook.com/mn.train.museu ... 987475349/

Now... about that GN SDP40 #325 Big Sky Blue repaint refund...

Given the current state of affairs at MTM, the Wisconsin Great Northern is going to be a FANTASTIC home for the GN 1244. I plan to make the trip out as soon as 1244 is operational.