Read the Trains Magazine Article reporting this issue. Harris retired due to health concerns and a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, but he will do whatever it takes to support the excursion program

Not saying trains isn't correct etc, but their are likely printing the kind corporate PR version / stmt.

Yes, he is the "Will Harris" mentioned in the news article above.

Also in the news article is a quote by Tom Cox. He says that there isn't any discord within the board, which is odd since 6 just resigned on the spot. People can chose to believe what they want, but anything out of this guy's mouth should be taken as a mostly a lie.

It's like Steam Locomotive operation comes with a curse. The more successful you are, the closer you come to a meltdown.

How Sad.

Well it’s the truth, now that those 6 resigned the board is now in agreement! Haha

Haha, it's all about perspective!

I can't help it. I am reminded of this image that came on my Facebook feed:



Not in the image is a comment by the poster, at least where I saw it:



Translation--those guys take the glory for the work done by someone else.

Oh yeah, we see that a lot, and not just in the preservation world.
***************************************************
With apologies to Chessie and her family (Peake, Nip, and Tuck), plus the feline members of the shop crew of the Nevada Northern, past and present (Dirt, Dirt Jr., R2D3, and Kenne-Cat--the last two are a pair of kittens, brothers from the same litter, and the newest cats in Ely.)



The two newest cats on the Nevada Northern--



https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=84 ... 5284798896

The news story and Trains article sound to me like nothing more than sugar coated PR statements. No discord among the members might just mean they are being professional and taking the high road. I've left positions due to poor management and toxic environments, but my official exit statement has always been "I've enjoyed the opportunity, this move is what's right for me and my family, etc." When what's done is done, it does no good to burn your bridges.

At the end of the day, 6 board members resigning on the spot is a sign of a problem within any organization. 6 board members simultaneously walking away from something they have a personal passion for points to an even bigger problem.

BM 765 says it well. With the organizations President plus 5 Board members resigning together there's obviously lots wrong within the VMT organization.
Let's hope for 611's sake that a viable solution is found before the engines 1472 day ticket expires.

Hope springs eternal. Ross Rowland

"For health reasons and to spend more time with his family" is the oldest of shopworn excuses for a forced retirement. Right up there with "has left to pursue other opportunities". I'd be interested to see what each of the other quitting board members "gave as their reason".

I do find it impossible to believe that 611 continuing in operation would not be a VMT priority, or that Scott Lindsey et al. can't keep her effectively running and (when the time comes) effectively taken through the 1472-day process and then effectively running afterward. I would be upset to be demonstrably wrong.

I was hoping, though, that after the hints Ross dropped about discord and other trouble with the operation in Goshen, there would be some discussion about the actual situation. Seems that isn't going to happen, either.

6 resigned out of a total of how many total board members?

Exactly. It's code for a forced exit or maybe when folks have had enough of a bad situation but don't want to make things public. All these statements just seem like standard boilerplate copy.

And of course VMT isn't going to flat out admit that retiring the engine is a possibility. They know how unpopular that would be.

Another obvious point - the president of an organization doesn’t just suddenly resign because of family, etc. - they continue on and help to train their successor. Unless it’s an immediate emergency - it’s something that is announced and planned a year or so in advance.

The fact that Scott is staying on is interesting.

You may want to determine when Will Harris's term as President was up before reading too much into what transpired. I think it was up by the date of the meeting. As to the others, no idea.

That would not be a resignation. According to all posts in this thread and in the media, he resigned.