Advance Deaccession Notice

The National New York Central Railroad Museum [in Elkhart, Indiana], in partnership with the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, invites the public to an Open House on Saturday, September 13, to learn more about the future of Elkhart’s railroad museum collection.

Hosted at the museum’s campus, the event will highlight a new strategic partnership aimed at developing a long-term vision for the museum’s rolling stock collection and the collaborative restoration of New York Central steam locomotive No. 3001.
As part of this process, the museum is undertaking a careful review of its outdoor equipment collection and will begin implementing a formal deaccession policy — not to remove all equipment, but to responsibly identify items that no longer align with the museum’s mission or fall outside the scope of available resources due to deterioration. Items with limited interpretive value, duplication, or poor structural condition may be made available to qualified preservation entities through a public request and evaluation process.
“The goal is not to empty the yard, but to elevate the museum,” said Brent Holaway, Executive Director of the National New York Central Railroad Museum. “While rolling stock is important, our broader aim is to deliver a world-class museum experience. We’ve maintained a beautiful and educational facility indoors, but the reality is that we’ve simply not had the resources to properly care for the 20 or more pieces of railroad equipment outdoors.
Every piece that remains, or that can be transferred to another organization, should help tell the story of railroading more clearly, more beautifully, and more sustainably. We’re approaching this initial deaccession process in a careful and curated manner, and the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has been an immense help in guiding that effort and ensuring we can chart a path for the New York Central to play an important role in the development of this neighborhood again,” stated Holaway.

The Open House will include:
• Strategic presentations from NNYCRM and FWRHS representatives
• A detailed overview of the deaccession framework and eligibility criteria
• Introduction of a formal request process for qualified museums and groups
• Updates on the restoration of New York Central steam locomotive No. 3001, part of the national American Locomotive Project
This initiative aligns with the broader community development vision for the Benham neighborhood, where the museum is located. As part of the University of Notre Dame’s 2023 Dean’s Charrette, the museum was identified as a catalytic space for neighborhood revitalization — transforming from a static collection of deteriorating artifacts into an engaging public space and destination for rail history.

For details, registration, and a roster of equipment, click here: https://fortwaynerailroad.org/.../elkha ... pen-house/

Reposting from Facebook, source Kelly Lynch: