From the Western Maryland Survivors list:

"The Western Maryland Scenic has put a petition on their website. Go
to
www.wmsr.com to fill out.It's not to easy to find, though. You need
to
click the buy ticets link to get there. When you do so, a ticket
window
will pop-up. You then need to click the "save our train" link at the
top. Please sign this petition. Every little bit may help."

I think this is wonderful, great number so far (I'm 477), and I'm glad its being put together, but isn't it time something like this should be done for and to EBT? My god, this national treasure is in just as big if not bigger danger of being lost than WMSR, no?

TJ Gaffney

Well, no, I would say. To whom would you address the petition, and what would it ask for?

Unlike the WMSRR, which is public property, and to whose plight a public petition is therefore an appropriate response, the EBT is private property.

If you are suggesting petitioning the owner, Mr. Joe Kovalchick, what would you be asking him to do, and on what grounds would you ask? Remember--the EBT is his private property.

If petitioning a state agency, what would you be asking that state agency to do, given that the property in question is the private property of Mr. Kovalchick, and the state has no direct control over it?

In my opinion, the two situations are not really analogous.

Fair 'nuf! So, what is to be done for and about EBT, then (sound of can of worms opening........)

TJ

Friends of EBT are doing wonderful things preserving the physical plant. Feel like working a day of your vacation? Maybe they can fit in another volunteer.

dave

It's not a can of worms at all, the answer is actually very straightforward.

Big, sweeping plans to "save" EBT in one fell swoop have all foundered in the past for a number of reasons.

What is working, right now, is a new and different model: small, incremental steps based on the ever-growing relationship between FEBT and the EBT. If this can be nurtured and helped to grow, the sky is the limit--but don't take my work for it, read Mr. K's own remarks to Dan Cupper in Dan's article in the current issue of Classic Trains.

So what can we do today:

1. Ride the EBT
2. Give money or time or both to the FEBT

Investing today in the FEBT restoration program is the single best thing any friend of the EBT can do, right now, to secure its long-term future.

You bet!

TJ

If we had 477 people show up for FEBT work sessions we'd have the place restored in no time at all. With so many people saying "you oughta" we don't get many showing up to do the work. Memberships and donations help greatly and are appreciated, but the rubber meets the road with the folks that are on site doing work. We have a core of about 20 regulars and about 10 frequenters, but we rarely break the 30 volunteers mark on a given day. So where is everyone else? I drive over 300 miles each way. Some drive or fly even further many times a year.

We offer:
-Hot meals available on site for modest cost
-Low cost lodging available
-Many different projects to choose from
-Being part of the solution

If anyone has suggestions on how to get more folks out there we'd love to hear them.

Upcoming sessions:
# April 23-24
# May 14-15
# June 4-5
# June 25-26
# July 23-24
# August 13-14
# September 10-11
# November 5-6

Restoration info
http://www.febt.org/Restore/
Our last session
http://www.febt.org/Restore/RF/0503.html

Chris-
Will there be anybody there between June 12 - 19th? As Dave and Erik suggested, that's my vacation, and would like to help then --- I unfortunately can't stay the 25th, as I have to be back that weekend for work. Otherwise, the earliest one I can do is the fall.

Tell ya what --- if I could get some of our volunteers (30 or so) on the Bramble and Huron to do some work with you guys, you think you might be able to swing some of your group our way in turn? Think of it like a massive Habitat for Humanity Project for both!

TJ Gaffney
Port Huron Museum

There will be no restoration work those days. We work at the discression of the railroad and are bound to the dates listed _unless_ a special project needs to be finished. Such special sessions usually happen in May, July or September. Work sessions in Robertsdale have not been announce yet, so there may be one there coinciding with your plans.

Regular trains will run the weekends of 11-12, 18-19.



That would be a question to send to Lee Rainey, our Work Session coordinator:

Telephone: (814) 867-7878 (evenings)
E-mail: leerainey@aol.com