Update on Niles Canyon Railway's efforts to expand operations.

http://railroadnews.net/news/3-5.html
ryarger@rypn.org

On the same page, story about UP granting a Make-a-Wish cab ride for a dying youngster. Have any museums done this? Seems a good community relations idea.

http://railroadnews.net/news/3-5.html
ryarger@rypn.org

Bob -

this past Saturday, 3/6/04, the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum hosted a little 6 year old from Canada. He was a huge Santa Fe fan (nice choice) and we put his entire family into ATSF #1509 from Campo to Miller Creek. The enjoyed a cab ride at the run around, and the walking tour.

This is a terrific guy with Leukemia - sponsored by the Make a wish.

Jim

Pacific Southwest Railway Museum

jim@sdrm.org

> Bob -

> this past Saturday, 3/6/04, the Pacific
> Southwest Railway Museum hosted a little 6
> year old from Canada. He was a huge Santa Fe
> fan (nice choice) and we put his entire
> family into ATSF #1509 from Campo to Miller
> Creek. The enjoyed a cab ride at the run
> around, and the walking tour.

> This is a terrific guy with Leukemia -
> sponsored by the Make a wish.

> Jim

There was a young man (about 7 or 8 years old) and his family who rode one of the Milwaukee Road #261 trips last fall between Minneapolis Jct and La Crescent, MN, who was sponsored by Make-A-Wish. The family preferred to remain anonymous and we have honored their request. The gesture was not performed to generate publicity, it was done to brighten the lives of a small child and his family who sincerely needed a break from the trials in their lives. They touched the crew's hearts deeply and when they returned to the shop to say "thanks" and for a "good-bye" on the Monday after the trips, most of the crew had tears starting to form in their eyes. It may have been the most magical moment that I have had with the locomotive during the last eight years or so. The whole experience was very private and very moving. No amount of publicity could approach the satisfaction the crew received from hosting the family.

Don C.

http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

Hello

I know at least once Steamtown NHS hosted a youngster on the Lehigh Valley #353 business car added to the Moscow excursion run.

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

Yes. We had a nice cab visitor and his family for a trip round the property at NCTM a year or so ago... worked out great.. the coal bunker was down to less than half so we had plenty of room for the parents and brothers and sisters while the honoree took my fireman's seat...quite honor in itself for the '25, among the many feathers in her 79-year-old cap.

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Back in the early 1990's when Joe Dale Morris was still heavily involved in the Austin Steam Train Association, I travelled to Austin to photograph the 786, and do research for a potential article about the locomotive and ASTA. The photography turned out nice, but the article never happened.

While I was there, a little three year old fella with a brain tumor got a Make-A-Wish cabride, a conductor's watch and hat, and a whole lot of love. He was a wonderful little guy, and his parents were great people. I don't remember his name but I vividly remember the utter joy he expressed at his "wish". Still get lumps in my throat thinking about it.

Southern Pacific 2-8-2 No. 786

> Update on Niles Canyon Railway's efforts to
> expand operations.
It is something to note that the community association that is described in this article is the same citizens that could just as easily be NYMBY's. We welcome their support and the continued support of Fremont and Alameda County. When Caltrans finishes the bridge we can get serious about building a wye in Niles and start planning the museum we plan to build within the wye. We are also working on getting our connection with UP at Hearst and doing massive yard improvements.
From a mechanical standpoint we have the Quincy #2 (Alco 2-6-2T) ready for the spring/summer operations. The tiger striped NW2 - SP1423 was just lifted off it's trucks and the wheel sets are going to be sent out to have new wheels pressed on to them. We just recieved two SP suburban coaches from the Cal State RR museum and plan to have one of them operational by Christmas.
We have also recently purchased and recieved the ex-SP/NWP SD-9 #4423. It has been checked out and is in fairly good condition. It is under restoration in Oakland with plans to return it to it's as built condition.
Lot's of things are happening in Niles Canyon and with the Pacific Locomotive Association. If you get a chance come check us out.

Niles Canyon Railway
jmann@asyst.com