While still a "work in progress", the West Virginia Railroad Museum now has a website (see below). Already, a number of pieces of railroad rolling stock has been acquired by the museum, which hopes to build on the site of the former Western Maryland Railway roundhouse in Elkins, West Virginia. Funding donations are especially needed at this time, to complete certain locomotive purchases and to provide for their transportation back to West Virginia. If your are interested in West Virginia railroad history, please join us and our efforts.

http://www.wvrailmuseum.com
gafizer@iceweb.net

Interesting site. Where are the Heisler and the 2-8-0s presently located? What are there former owners?

Thanks!

Joshua

> Interesting site. Where are the Heisler and
> the 2-8-0s presently located? What are there
> former owners?

The Heisler is in Bonsal, N.C., in kit form at the New Hope Valley RR.

The two WVN Consols are in Pennsylvania. One is covered and the other appears to be outside...quite a bit of work to get all three to look decent, much less run. Nothing like starting a museum on a grade.

Wrinnbo@aol.com

Went down to Elkins last fall to look at the site. Station nicely restored as the Visitors Center. Several commercial out-parcels out of the yard will make any full-sized rail museum on the site a lot more difficult, but not impossible. Chief problem is a split in focus on whether or not the West Virginia Central will barely make it onto the site (with a single track into the depot) or try to redevelop the yard as a functional rail museum/shop. The Condo and retail people have their own vision, and at the moment, it's as clashing as the Mall at Steamtown in terms of concept. Stay tuned....

randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

> Went down to Elkins last fall to look at the
> site. Station nicely restored as the
> Visitors Center. Several commercial
> out-parcels out of the yard will make any
> full-sized rail museum on the site a lot
> more difficult, but not impossible. Chief
> problem is a split in focus on whether or
> not the West Virginia Central will barely
> make it onto the site (with a single track
> into the depot) or try to redevelop the yard
> as a functional rail museum/shop. The Condo
> and retail people have their own vision, and
> at the moment, it's as clashing as the Mall
> at Steamtown in terms of concept. Stay
> tuned....

Having worked in West Virginia, for a Charleston TV station, it would not surprise me for the good Senator Byrd to unload some federal dollars on this project. Their challenge would seem to be to get the King of Pork down for a visit, and see if their dream can be turned into "a project essential for the economic and commerical development of the region."


amiller@rtms-movietrains.com