There was a group in Astoria, Oregon working on a Santa Maria Railroad mike (#21) a few years back. They had a great website showing restoration photos with informative captions, etc. The website seems to be dormant and I hope this group didn't give up.Anyone know?Scott

I think Martin Adams who is involved in that project posts occasionally here - I also see him on SteamTech. Those guys are doing great work and aren't intimidated by anything. I haven't heard of any shut down, but they are a small group of volunteers and all have real lives to deal with, so probably web site updating isn't a high priority.dave

I'm not Martin, but I am from Astoria and a member of the Astoria Railroad Preservation Association (ARPA). I've been out of town for a week and just came across this message.We are still working on #21, but the website doesn't show the progress. Our webmaster moved to San Francisco, and claims he can update things from there, but it hasn't proved to be the case. We are working on a solution.Work is still progressng on #21. The firebox is about 90-95% done. We are waiting for staybolts to get finished before we put the firebox back in place. We've been working on the dry pipe and throttle. We've moved the new parts for the tender to a new location and hope to start drilling holes and putting in rivets in the next couple of weeks.Most of our time the past couple of years has been devoted to doing track work in the City of Astoria for the trolley, and turning two drawbridges for the Lewis & Clark Explorer train. The bridges were built in the 1890's, and require two people to take a boat out to the bridge, walk in circles 44 times (for the John Day bridge) to pull the wedges, turn the bridge, and put the wedges back in place. Once the Explorer passes by, walk in circles 44 times to put the bridge back to the open position. Turning the John Day bridge takes about 1-1/2 hours from start to finish, and the Blind Slough bridges takes about an hour each time. Two volunteers for each bridge turn the bridge in the morning, and another crew turn the bridges in the afternoon when the Explorer goes back to Portland.We've been turning the bridges to help the Explorer train stay around. It was pretty expensive to have the paid crew turn the bridge, and the Explorer train wouldn't have survived if ARPA hadn't stepped up and turned the bridges. We are doing it to see the train come to Astoria, to build good will with the Portland & Western who owns the track and to keep some activity on the rail line so the line won't be abandoned before we get #21 finished. If you come down to Astoria on the Explorer train, be sure to wave to the bridge tenders--who knows maybe it will be me. If I'm not turning the bridge I usually operate the wheelchair lift at the station when the Explorer gets to Astoria.And if you are in good physical shape, can ride in a boat, climb a ladder up 8-10 feet, squeeze through the girder of the bridge, like to walk in circles and have the desire to operate a 1890's vintage drawbridge this year, visit our website at http://www.astoriarr.org and email us. We'd love the help, and the chance to show off what we've been doing.Jeff NewenhofBoard MemberAstoria Railroad Preservation Association