I heard from a reliable, inside source that the Science Museum of Virginia has decided not to allow Jack Showalter's equipment to go into storage at the museum. This, to my knowledge, has not yet been publicly announced.

Assuming this is true (I am not attempting to start/spread rumors; just doing a preservation what-if), does anyone know if the Old Dominion Chapter, NRHS might have room and would welcome Jack's equipment to their Hallsboro Yard facility? This would assume, of course, that (a) NS would allow the movement of Jack's equipment there; and (b) the NRHS folks either would have sufficient room to do other things (like run their 0-6-0T) or wouldn't mind the additional equipment there.

If that doesn't work out, two other thoughts come to mind: (1) a lumber yard in Goshen, VA (near Staunton) has a caboose and Shay, owned by the lumberyard owner-perhaps he'd be amenable; (2) seems to me there was a lumberyard in Gordonsville (?) that, at one time, allowed Jack to park his stuff there.

Other options?

It is sad to say it isnt rumor. The science Museum has backed out of the Deal with the Showalters. If the Old Dominion has storage but is accessable only by NS then that wont work because the FRA has said that the equipment cant be interchanged between CSX and any othere RR. If it could then there is the Valley Line Between Staunton and Harrisonburg. This line starts half a mile from where the Showalter equipment is sitting now. If someone could get the FRA to make an exception then it could be moved there.
so much for that Idea.
Next Idea is for the BBRR to let them store the equipment on a siding somewhere between staunton and Richmond till another siding coyuld be found or put in for them to use. I understand that this isnt a feasable idea
another Idea down the tubes
Moving the equipment to Clifton Forge is another viavble Idea. I would think the COHS might be willing to allow storage there. They may not have enough track for it though.,Then there is the fact that the FRA has stated the move can be from Staunton to Richmond. I ask again does anyone know someone who can get an allowance from the FRA for moving it from Staunton to Clifton Forge?

last but not least is the equipment sits there and when the lease expires it is taken away from the Showalters and done with as the new owners will.

A Truely sad state of affairs
Andrew Martin

Are you sure that it's the FRA which is dictating what can and can't be moved in interchange? My understanding is that all rules governing interchange between railroads come from the AAR Code of Interchange, the industry self-regulatory organization, not the FRA.

FRA safety rule issues usually amount to "fix it, get a wavier, or don't move it", with interchange not entering into the equation one way or the other.

Actually, the FRA isn't that fussy so long as you work with them and don't try to hide anything or put anything over on them. They allow "yard moves" without current certification. You'd probably need a current COTS at minimum to move anything on a main line like CSX or NS. Contacting the local FRA office in a spirit of cooperation to see what can and can't be done will usually result in working something out that everybody can live with (yes, there are exceptions, but you find that in just about anything).

We used to be scared of the FRA before they took an interest in us. When they did come in, it cost a lot of money up front to get into compliance. However, we found that they're really pretty reasonable, and what they demanded of us was actually a good thing. Considering they're a government agency, they're surprisingly flexible, actually. The key is to be nice and not try to slip anything by them.

Erik and Everyone
You are right. The FRA doesn't regulate interchange rights. That is left up to the Railroads themselves and the Surface Transportation Board, and they stay out of most of it.
The only time the FRA steps in is when there is a safety matter involved.
Andrew Martin

Yes the deal did fall thru when the VSM decided that they wanted payment for the storage and several other rights that were not orginally disscused and were not conducive to the Virginia Central's best interst.

The VCRR is currently looking for a new place to store it's equipment, though no sites have officaly been concidered. The major hurdle in moving it is the fact that
A) the steam locomotives are steam locomotives
B) the tenders still have friction bearings
C) not all the brake equipment is in date
D) it's not your usualy move (this worries class 1's more than any thing)

The local FRA inspector went over all the equipment and given it the go, but that's only what CSX wanted to here, what any other railroad will say about it?? who knows....

i don't think any of us will know any thing about what is about to happen until it's on the move.

John D. said, "A lumber yard in Goshen, VA (near Staunton) has a caboose and Shay."


Hi, Does anyone know the number of the Goshen caboose? Thanks, Roger