From: http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-105807

Interesting that the author quickly forgets that the "Ohio Museum" is in fact a railroad with several steam locomotive restorations under its belt and that he chastizes a museum that has seen fit to preserve and cosmetically restore its city's own Norfolk & Western locomotives and place them under a roof!

He says excursions would "generate more funds on a sustainable level," which makes me wonder if this guy has even volunteered at a museum enough to know that excursions with an operating locomotive run on greenbacks more so than coal, water, or manpower.

It seems to me the author has a bone to pick with the management and that he's simply mad that nobody locally will get a chance to "make it run" before someone else does.

I wonder if he would have put up such a fuss about the 763's potential inclusion in the American Freedom Train in 1975...

KL

I think you've got it, Kelly. He has a bone to pick with the management. If they wanted to restore the 763, they have had a chance to do so for over 40 years and have not. And you are right, he gave all the reasons except the only real one, money.

Furthermore, if the guy wants to see the Roanoke Valley appreciate it's rail heritage, the population could express that view to the local political representatives, and perhaps let NS make hay from that warmth created when industry and the common folk bond!

I think it has been said here before, but the first thing to do to stabilize a piece of rail equipment is to put a roof overhead and walls around it. It is foolhardy to think a static piece of iron will not suffer at the hands of the elements, let alone a machine which includes rotating parts, bearings, a pressure vessel, etc.

If you cannot garner the necessary funds (and site) to do that as a minimum, go ahead - SELL IT.

Bob Kutella

I'd say the only thing the writer does have a point is the fact that once something it's sold, it's gone forever and you can't restore and run a locomotive that belongs to someone else now, but you might be able to do so with a rusting one on your property. In that regard, and that one alone, he's kinda got a point.

While I don't remember being privvy to the use of the funds gained from the sale, if the writer is correct in suggesting that money would be used for other than restoration or another collections-related expense, then his assertion that selling collection items to fund cash flow is ill-advised is also on the mark.

It is my understanding that the money would be used to make roof repairs on the museum building. They were hit by a freak wind and thunderstorm a while ago. Roof repairs are needed to preserve other parts of their collection. The museum has an excellent and varied collection of rolling stock. I was quite impressed when I was there last year.

I'm pretty sure the damaged roof was on the freight house itself, not the train shed. In any case the writer does have a few valid points, along with a number of invalid ones.

I wonder, is this engine (Like the 611, 1218) owned by the City of Roanoke? Have they approved the sale?

They do have some neat stuff there but seemed (at least during my visit) that the place suffered from a lack of direction and had no real comprehensive interpretive plan. I never did find out why they had a missle in the back yard, perhaps that says something in of itself.

If they're having a yeard sale, I wonder what they want for the N&W C630, I bet we at the DL could put it to good use.

Dave

Jes' in case any o' dem d**m Yankee carpetbaggers try an' take der stuff... Dey can nuke 'em!

Given my location and experience with VMT, I feel that a few comments are in order. First off, Ron, the roof repairs have already been done, and to my knowledge were covered by insurance. Furthermore, the damage was confined to an area not open to the public, and the only damage to the collection was to some paper items. No major artifacts, nor any rail equipment, was ever in danger from the storm damage.
While Mr. Moose is obviously totally clueless about the economics of rail preservation in general, and excursion operations in particular, he does make some valid points in his editorial. Yes, Kelly, he does have a bone to pick with the management. However, his opinion of the Museum's Board is one that is widespread in this area, and is shared by almost everyone who has ever had any dealings with the institution. It is a bone that should be picked, for the long term health and growth of the museum. Change at the Board level is long overdue and sorely needed. While most of the indvidual Board members are good people with good intentions, collectively the Board is perceived (with justification) as arrogant, cliqueish, and clueless.
Also, VMT does have a history of "collections money" mysteriously being used elsewhere, probably for daily operations. The most notable case is that of a sizable donation that was made in the late 1980's by another non-profit organization for the restoration of the Museum's N&W dynamometer car. The car was untouched until into this millenium. It was given a quick and dirty coat of paint a few years ago, but is far from being considered "restored".
Over the last 22 years, VMT has never fulfilled its "function" to "maintain it's major assets". This has been a big sore point with a large number of people, and I believe it has been a major factor in VMT's lack of credibility, both with its volunteers and donors. I know someone is going to make the usual lack of funding comments, but at times during this period (although not at the present due to budget cuts) VMT was receiving a level of state subsidies that would be the envy of most rail museums in this country. Instead of maintenance and interpretation, there was a large "administrative" staff for many years.
However, I applaud the decision to sell 763. If the money is used as it should be, for collections purposes, it would be a sign that the Board is finally starting to act in a mature, responsible manner. (yes, 763 is City property. I hope that City Council is wise enough to condition the use of the funds if it approves the sale) VMT has a large collection, but much of it is "generic" and not regional in it's focus. If used as trading material, a solid and significant "Viginia" collection could be developed. VMT now has an Executive Director who "gets it" and who could lead the Museum in positive directions. Whether or not he will be able to overcome negative momentum and "status quo" is yet to be seen. There have been some very good people on the staff and Board over the years, but they all have given up after a couple of years and gone on to greener pastures.

Thanks for the lowdown, Gary. Hopefully the aforementioned negative momentum won't effectively disable the director and the museum from heading in new and positive directions--hopefully with a little financial help from the sale of NKP 763. I guess if an organization had to "cut losses," the benefit from the sale could be considered an understandable, but potentially beneficial "loss" to secure stability and bolster a positive outlook.

KL

and if this reporter wants to see a locomotive running, then whay doesn't he work on the local officals to get the two N&W steamers going that haven't been hot in years.

Besides the FRA inspection on the boiler (still a big chunk of change), the only thing keeping a certain large modern 4-8-4 parked is the lack of a place to run. I remember the evening in 2003 when we had a reception for the dedication of 1218. A certain now-retired NS Chairman stated that he didn't care if we restored 611 back to operable condition, but it wasn't going to run on "his railroad".

I do believe "Mr. Moose" did a long stint on the "Captain Kangaroo" televison program. Ping pong balls, anyone?

The loki is in fact owned by the city of roanoke(the A is not, donated to the museum by NS...it's previous owner) and the city has NOT yet approved the sale...it is "under review" per the strong urging of a former NS steam exec.