Railway Museum q u a r t e r l y

"Advancing Railway Preservation"

Number 54 A Journal of the Association of Railway Museums Winter 2010

The 2010 ARM Conference featured a trip over the spectacular ex-BC Rail line on the Whistler Mountaineer to Whistler Mountain resort. West Coast Railway Association’s Canadian Pacific heavyweight mountain observation car #598 runs in the consist, providing revenue to the association and a great way to view the railroad. Jim Vaitkunas photo. PRESIDENT’S COLUMN railway By Bob LaPrelle As we settle into a new year, thanks are in order to several organizations and museum individuals for a job well done in 2009. First and foremost, a big thanks to our members for their continued support of ARM. Your membership quarterly enables the organization to represent the railway preservation community with the collective strength of all of us. As you will read elsewhere in this issue Railway Museum Quarterly is published quarterly by the Association of Railway Museums and of RMQ, association and collaboration distributed free of charge to member and affiliate member institutions and individuals. The are key to tackling our challenges that opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Association. Articles appearing in RMQ lie ahead. may be reprinted in whole or in part provided proper credit is given the source. Submissions are I would also like to thank our host always welcomed, along with accompanying photos. Articles covering programs, initiatives, major site for a great Fall 2009 Conference. events and undertakings of member institutions are of special interest. The West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish (Vancouver), B.C. did an outstanding job of hosting the ARM ARM Membership membership during the week-long Membership in the Association of Railway Museums is open to nonprofit organizations preserving event in September. Don Evans and and displaying at least one piece of railway or street railway rolling stock to the public on a Susan Steen, along with the board, regularly scheduled basis. Other organizations, businesses and individuals interested in the work of staff, volunteers, and presenters at the the Association are invited to become affiliates. West Coast Railway Heritage All members and affiliates receive Railway Museum Quarterly as a benefit of membership. For Association are to be commended for more details, or to report address changes, please contact the Association of Railway Museums, their hard work and dedication. 1016 Rosser St., Conyers, GA 30012, or email to [email protected]. WCRA’s itinerary of educational and Call us at (770) 278-0088 or visit our Web site: www.railwaymuseums.org. informative programs along with fun and entertaining activities made for a nice balance between enrichment and Directors leisure activity. It was also exciting for Richard Anderson, Northwest Railway Museum, [email protected] us to celebrate the beginning of West David Dunn, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, [email protected] Coast’s next phase of construction on Bob LaPrelle, Museum of the American Railroad, [email protected] their roundhouse and conference Peter Murphy, Exporail, [email protected] facility. We are also very grateful to G. Mark Ray, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, [email protected] Peter Armstrong and the Armstrong Ken Rucker, National Capital Trolley Museum, [email protected] Hospitality Group for our rail trip to Jim Schantz, Seashore Trolley Museum, [email protected] Whistler and tour of the Rocky Eric Sitiko, HART-TECOLine Streetcar Museum, [email protected] Mountaineer in Vancouver. Kyle Wyatt, California State Railroad Museum, [email protected] The fall conferences are a signature event for ARM and the single most important tool to share ideas and Officers fellowship among each other. Check President: Bob LaPrelle ARM’s website for updated Vice President: David Dunn information on future conferences Secretary: Ellen Fishburn, [email protected] including reduced rate hotel Treasurer: Ken Rucker, 1313 Bonifant Road, Silver Spring, MD 20905-5961, accommodations and optional tours. [email protected] ARM is also soliciting proposals for Committees future conference sites. This is an Renewal Parts: Rod Fishburn, Chair, [email protected] opportunity to showcase your organization and share your knowledge Staff and accomplishments with the railway Suzanne Grace, Executive Director, 1016 Rosser St., Conyers, GA 30012 preservation community. [email protected] We are also grateful to the volunteers at ARM. Thanks go out to Railway Museum Quarterly those who serve on the board, hold Aaron Isaacs, Editor, 3816 Vincent Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55410, (612) 929-7066, officer positions and committee [email protected]. assignments, along with the parts exchange group and our representatives The Association of Railway Museums is a Professional Affiliate Member of the American to AAM, FRA and other initiatives. Association of Museums. Finally, our thanks to Aaron Isaacs at RMQ and our Executive Director Organizational Mission: The purpose of the Association of Railway Museums is to lead in the Suzanne Grace for continuing to add advancement of railway heritage through education and advocacy, guided by the principles value to ARM each year. While most set forth in "Recommended Practices for Railway Museums" and incorporated in other best associations saw a decline in practices generally accepted in the wider museum community. membership last year, ARM actually saw a net increase. We are also honored to have added our new international 2 ARM/TRAIN JOINT SPRING MEETING AT THE STRASBURG RAIL ROAD Friday-Saturday April 9-10, 2009 The Association of Railway Museums and the Tourist Railway Association are having their first joint Spring meeting to plan future cooperation between the two organizations. Other national rail preservation leaders will be there to discuss how the industry can best move forward. Friday: Separate ARM and TRAIN Board meetings Saturday: All-day meeting between ARM and TRAIN. The public is invited to observe. Strasburg Rail Road wilI run extra trains Friday thru Sunday in addition to the regular passenger train. All trains open to conference attendees. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES Sunday:Informal summit of rail preservation leaders Monday-Wednesday April 11-13 Engineering Standards Committee will meet to work on the ASME boiler code. These meetings are open to the public.

Contact Ann Musser at the railroad ([email protected]) or 717-687-8421 to make reservations. Lodging: Historic Strasburg Inn, 1400 Historic Drive, Strasburg, PA 17579, 717-687-7691 There are 67 rooms blocked at $79, 04/08/10 thru 04/13/10, with checkout on the 14th. There are also 8 suites blocked at $99. An 11% tax will be added. To access the rate use the function name of “Strasburg Rail Road Train Meeting”. Cutoff date for reservations at these rates is 03/08/10. members from Mexico and Kenya in encouraging and valuable component of incumbent upon us to point out the 2009. the conference experience. uniqueness, historical significance, and I had the pleasure of meeting with Another important topic that is on the economic benefits of ensuring the several of you at the fall conference and minds of many members is our ability future of our operations. learning of your accomplishments and to continue operating historic ARM will continue to participate in concerns throughout the past year. equipment as rail transportation comes the regulatory process through Obviously, the economic downturn is under greater regulatory scrutiny. Many information gathering and sharing. We the greatest immediate challenge to all of you have a stake in the implications will stress, and at times take the lead on ARM members. Those of us who rely of increased regulation on operating safety issues as an industry association on private funding are experiencing museums and tourist railways. ARM while emphasizing the special needs individual, foundation, and corporate has and will continue to place a high and considerations of our business. We giving at greatly reduced levels. Others priority on addressing this issue. While have formed a committee of ARM among us who are reliant on public the Association and its members are members who operate historic funds are seeing budget cutbacks and strongly committed to safety in all equipment to address your concerns and staff reductions. aspects of operation, we are also a establish a timely and effective method While we will have challenges in unique industry within an industry of responding to future issues. We will 2010, we also introduced many when it comes to the application of continue to liaison with the FRA and innovative ideas at the fall conference. standards. keep abreast of the latest regulatory We’re becoming much more diverse in Operational, historic railway activity while providing valuable input our approach to railway preservation. equipment is unique, but no less of an about the special needs and Just a few years ago, conference topics asset to its owners and operators than considerations of our business. We are were centered around the more practical their modern common carrier also working with sister organizations aspect of our operations. While the counterparts – particularly on tourist including, TRAIN and RPCA to crafts are essential to all of us, we are railways. Beyond preservation, we have develop collaborative ways of ensuring also placing a high priority on the an expected return on our investment in the continued safe operation of our business side of our field. We are each piece, and an obligation to its care, valuable assets in the 21st Century. becoming much more entrepreneurial maintenance, and safe operation – just We will address several key issues in and marketing savvy. This is a very like the Class 1s. This is an educational 2009. We are looking forward to a process as much as anything. It is 3 productive joint ARM/TRAIN board true) had the Federal Railroad respect for historical accuracy, or that meeting this April in Strasburg, PA. Administration ratcheting up regulation, museums don’t have a proper The two boards will explore ways in and a congressman introduced an appreciation of what it takes to turn a which to collaborate on issues and amendment to eliminate Transportation profit running tourist trains. No one initiatives common to both Enhancement funding for rail museums. would deny that the cultures of the two organizations. This collaboration is Were we ready to respond as a unified organizations differ. important to the future of our discipline. industry? No. We were caught off guard Let me clear that I’m not taking a Aaron Isaacs and John Hankey explore and scrambled to prepare some sort of position on merger. However, people this subject in two very eloquent and response. are approaching the Spring meeting informative pieces that follow. Several years ago there was an with an open mind. So read on – there are many exciting abortive attempt to unify the industry Some form of cooperation will ideas and initiatives in store for ARM under a single banner, at least for definitely be on the table at the Spring members in 2010. purposes of countering external threats. meeting. Representatives of other rail Finally, all of us with the leadership It went nowhere. Too few people were preservation organizations will also be at ARM wish each of you a happy and interested and there was clearly some there to observe and participate. The prosperous New Year. Please do not protection of turf happening. However, idea of an industry-wide cooperative hesitate to contact us if we can be of the events of the past year, including alliance, a rail preservation “NATO”, assistance. the Great Recession, have put will probably be discussed. If you’re cooperation back on the table. interested in these issues—and want to Elsewhere in this issue, John Hankey see some world-class preservation at A NATO FOR TRAINS? makes the case for greatly increased the Strasburg Rail Road and the cooperation among the organizations Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, By Aaron Isaacs listed above, which he dubs “Train come to Strasburg on April 9-10. World”. Who speaks for the railway Your ARM Board has been elevating preservation movement? I am certainly the issue of cooperation with TRAIN HANGING not the first to notice that our industry’s over the last year. ARM and TRAIN TOGETHER—OR public voice is fragmented among have many more things in common than multiple organizations whose roles they have differences. Both FINDING OURSELVES overlap. ARM represents the largest of organizations have seemed to fall short HANGED SEPARATELY the rail museums, some of whom run of the critical mass needed to tourist railways and own major accomplish their goals. Many of their By John P. Hankey archives. The Tourist Railway activities (conferences, publications) Association (TRAIN) represents many duplicate each other. John Hankey's work as a railroader, of the same museums, plus the tourist In 2001, the two organizations held a historian, curator, and museum railway industry and the vendors that joint annual conference. It was a great consultant spans four decades. RMQ supply both ARM and TRAIN members success, drawing about twice as many asked him to offer an assessment of (but wait—some of them are also ARM participants as either of the two separate what the railroad heritage community members). The National Railway conferences. The decision was made to faces as the new year--and hopefully, Historical Society predated both ARM do it again in 2006 and once again it the economic recovery--begins. His and TRAIN, yet quite a few of its was a huge success. The next joint point is to invite us to see things chapters are ARM and/or TRAIN annual conference is 2011 in differently, ask hard questions, and members. The NRHS umbrella includes Chattanooga. understand that we are all in this full-fledged museums, non-museum Having tasted the benefits of together. Much of what follows is based ownership and operation of vintage cooperation, both Boards decided to do on research Hankey has been doing for equipment and archives. Then there’s more. April 9-10, 2010 will see the first some years on the history and practice AAPRCO, which represents private rail ever joint ARM/TRAIN Spring of railroad preservation. RMQ looks passenger car owners, all of whom Meeting. Both Boards agreed to explore forward to opening a lively--but civil preserve vintage rolling stock. The combining their two publications, RMQ and respectful--discussion. Railway & Locomotive Historical and Trainline and that may happen in Society, which predates all other 2010. We are going to remember this year. preservation groups, concentrates on the Joint meetings and the real Not so much because we survived scholarship side of preservation. Yet possibility of a joint publication have 2009, but because 2010 will be pivotal there are many single-railroad historical raised the question, should ARM and for reasons we don’t yet clearly societies that do the same, as do some TRAIN consider merging? I don’t want perceive. museums. The National Model Railroad to alarm our members, but it seems I’d like to propose a few “areas of Association represents modelers, yet logical to take a look at it. Currently concern” and suggest possibilities from many museums make extensive use of there are two administrative structures the perspective of a friendly observer of models as interpretive tools. with paid staff, two publications and “Train World” (a useful and respectful It’s hard even for industry insiders to two sets of conferences. Many shorthand for the diverse community of keep the players straight. How must it organizations pay double dues to join interests we created over the last appear to outsiders who have occasion both. The separate annual conferences century). to deal with us? If you were a sometimes don’t produce a financial They are based on my experience in governmental agency that regulates surplus. cultural resource management, history, railroads and was about to propose a There are certainly arguments and not-for-profit administration. If new rule, or a congressman deciding the against a merger. ARM has always met some of my opinions seem forceful or future of Transportation Enhancement in September or October, but TRAIN’s forward, I certainly intend no offense; funding, would you know whose voice meetings are in November, after the my hope is to help open an honest and should be heard and respected? operating season. Some worry that mature discussion that will help us all Last year two episodes threw a scare tourist railroads don’t have the proper craft a secure and collegial future. into all of us. A rumor (it may yet be 4 Relevance hard choices and focus on critical certain: We will work even harder to Why should people in the 21st issues. “add value” to our products and Century give a tinker’s dam about what Leadership is always a challenge for experiences because our customers will they perceive to be a 19th and early membership organizations and small demand more value for the money. 20th Century industrial enterprise? not-for-profits, and real, effective Some parts of Train World were Why should they understand “trains” as change is likewise difficult. In our case, more affected than others, and some interesting, romantic, fun, and worthy genuine leadership means educating segments were so lean to begin with of support when they are members and colleagues, making well- that they can hang on. But unless we simultaneously dealing with Islamist reasoned arguments, and then having pay attention going forward, the terrorism, climate change, energy the courage to make hard decisions and emerging recovery will not necessarily insecurity, and the latest gizmo from take organizations (and the field in mean our recovery. In the future, we Apple or Google? general) in different directions. will need to become more skilled at Culture and society do not stand still, Sometimes, the number of arrows in “development” and hone the craft of especially in America. At one time, your back is an accurate measure of the making friends, raising money, and almost everyone had direct, close effectiveness of your leadership. competing in our respective involvement with railroading. Even up It comes down to one of leadership’s marketplaces. And it doesn’t much to the creation of Amtrak, our popular core aspects: the ability, and matter whether it is a not-for-profit culture routinely referenced trains. The willingness, to see several futures museum or heritage railroad: the issues, Monkees took “The Last Train to simultaneously. One is the future of the and the urgency, are the same. Clarksville.” Arlo Guthrie made Steve organization or project. Another is the Goodman’s “The City of New Orleans” future of the field, and a third is how Succession a Top-40 hit. In movies like future generations—with no direct I think everyone recognizes the need Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” the sense of the traditional railroad—will to create new audiences, supporters, and trains themselves often seemed like understand the heritage we work so leaders. Only by reinvigorating and characters. hard to preserve. Keeping three replenishing itself can a field survive. Television shows like “Petticoat interrelated futures in mind is tough Truly successful ones prosper by Junction” and “The Fugitive” relied on enough. Maybe, just maybe, we can maintaining a core set of values and an abiding cultural familiarity with keep at least some of our arrows in the principles, attracting new blood, and railroading. Yet when Hollywood quiver and give leadership the chance continually reminding the world at large remade “The Fugitive” as a big-budget to lead. of its “place” in the rapidly evolving movie thirty years later (in 1993), the cultural environment. train was merely an opportunity for Show Us The Money For a century, the railroad industry catastrophic spectacle. Should we Who pays for railroad heritage? itself fulfilled those roles. It kept “the believe that a 90-degree collision with a Where will large museums and small railroad” front and center as an iconic nearly-empty prison bus is going to railroad clubs find the money and American presence, and reinforced the send a GP-9 sailing through the air? Of people to fulfill their mission and duty? notion that every American owed a debt course not. But the process of letting How will we convince people to pay for to the railroad industry. Railroad ignorant outsiders define railroading what we offer, whether that is an heritage was an important part of that was well underway. exhibit, a heritage railroad experience, project. Keeping the thread of relevance or a model locomotive? Railroad Then came the transition. After about strong and widely shared should be a heritage is in the same situation as e- 1980, it was difficult for the industry to core objective of railroad heritage as a commerce. It is largely our nature to “own” the railroad heritage agenda as field. That might be the most give what we have away. But railroading literally reinvented itself compelling argument of all for making somehow, we need to create value and from the inside out. As companies railroad heritage an integral part of the find ways to “monetize” railroad ceased being “regulated public utilities” freight and passenger rail resurgence. heritage so that we can sustain its and focused on core businesses, the We can help “railroading to come” future. primary responsibility for railroad represent itself as the natural It is going to be a long time--at least heritage shifted to a community that progression of a backbone American five years, maybe ten—before the not- may not have been fully ready to accept technology. for-profit and cultural resource it. In turn, the rail resurgence can management climate returns to pre- Railroad heritage had to reinvent support railroad heritage in real ways. 2008 conditions. Railroad heritage itself, too, and was largely on its own Our job will be to figure out what projects with equity-based endowments when it came to attracting a new works to mutual advantage, and to shared the panic as the bottom dropped generation of railfans, industry remind people of all ages and out. The evaporation of wealth meant supporters, modelers, historians, backgrounds that railroading helped that there was—and will be—far less engaged railroaders, and everyone else create the world they live in--and that it money available for giving. As the who used to find their way to railroad will shape their future. decline in property values ripples heritage by other means. One result was through state and local governments, the creation of government and public Leadership we will see waves of budget cutting and entities (like CSRM and the North We work in an environment public service reductions. Railroad Carolina Transportation Museum) and dramatically different even from ten heritage will suffer in ways we cannot considerable public investment in what years ago. The short version is that yet see. had been a largely private effort. In fact, railroad heritage leadership needs to be The fallout from the “Debacle I cannot think of another basic industry more like contemporary corporate or Decade” will take years to percolate whose heritage is so widely supported cultural resource management through the economy. Funding sources as a public good. leadership, and less like traditional and mechanisms will be distorted, and Sustaining and replenishing that level “club” or “historical society” there will be more competition for of cultural legitimacy and public leadership. The corollary is that the resources at every level and in every consensus will be critical to finding members of railroad organizations need segment. Attendance and ridership are resources and winning the kind of to support their leaders as they make difficult to predict, but one thing is political and community support we 5 require to move forward. Think of the A critically important kind of for a series of discussions and NIMBY problem, or the current “vision” is inward looking and conclusions. Perhaps we begin by paranoia directed at railfan reflective. It asks a different set of simply defining what comprises the photographers—an activity that brought questions and is more concerned with field of railroad heritage, why it is many people to the hobby. For too long, understanding railroad heritage itself. important, what its goals are, and how it we coasted on the railroad industry’s How many of us are there? How many is inextricably woven into the fabric of past efforts and didn’t recognize that organizations in what branches? What American life. railroad heritage had to be its own is our collective economic impact? Bringing people from all corners of advocate. We now need to be as What are our own strengths, Train World together for a couple of politically savvy and as aggressive in weaknesses, opportunities, and threats days would at least open a series of defending our interests as the as a field? serious, ongoing conversations. With competition. That kind of vision considers why we luck, the Angels of our better nature That is partly why the major railroad do this, how we get along, and who else would lead us to a renewed sense of heritage organizations are striving to re- we might bring into the tent. A word I what railroad preservation could be if establish effective working relationships like to use is “collegiality.” What do the we worked together and didn’t think in with the railroad industry. It is an odd different branches of railroad heritage terms of affiliation, self-interest, or turf. learning process for both. Railroads have in common? What can they learn Don’t underestimate the value of that have to be convinced that our from each other? Can we define the kind of formal discussion. It is central communities can materially help the outlines of Train World and create a to the process of transitioning railroad industry (and manage perceived risks), stronger sense of shared purpose and heritage from loose groups or and Train World has to be willing to common interest? passionate enthusiasts into a respected, accept very different kinds of Taking the idea of “vision” seriously legitimate, well-positioned discipline. interactions. After three decades of may seem ridiculous to organizations And that helps get resources, visitors, uneasy separation, we may be on the struggling to keep rainwater out of new members, and political/economic verge of a more progressive, and rolling stock, or railroad clubs with influence we need to create a stable mutually beneficial, relationship. aging and declining memberships. Yet future. Perhaps most critically, there are all we must do is look to our cousins We also need to be speaking with young people coming along who share across the pond, as Jim Wrinn did each other more frequently and more the passion and understand the essence recently in a Trains Magazine article on effectively. Let me suggest one of our collective project. But how do we British railway preservation. relatively low-cost alternative: a hand off leadership to people with such Their accomplishments were comprehensive, reliable, keyword- different approaches, mindsets, and impressive, and we have much to learn. searchable online resource for railroad experiences? Greg Molloy, who heads Can we imagine what might happen heritage news, data and connections. It the NRHS, summed it up perceptively: here if we adopted what Jim described may be a joint effort to take Railway “If Train World is going to survive, it as a key component of their vision for Preservation News to a higher level, or needs open minds and ears. It needs to railroad heritage: “Audacity in it might be some coordinated effort learn from younger generations what presentation, and a fearlessness about among the dozen-or so major players. interests them, and how they want to what is achievable”? But information and connectedness are work and receive information.” two of our most powerful tools, and We Need to Talk anything we can do to reduce the The Vision Thing Railroad heritage may continue to be friction, cost, and time of that Vision is one of those terms that an alphabet soup of entities and efforts information is A Good Thing. How is it seems obvious but often isn’t. Many with no real sense of connectedness. that we devote lives to the study and railroad heritage organizations have But does it have to be that way? Could preservation of one of the most efficient “vision statements” which describe a railroad heritage shape a clearly and encompassing networks ever best-case scenario for what they want to articulated, compelling, shared “Vision devised—and we still rely on achieve, what it will look like, and how for Railroad Heritage in the 21st newsletters? they should conduct their activities. The Century” that offers a realistic And we certainly should not miss the “vision” I have in mind is somewhat architecture for cooperation and the chance to take our own messages to the different and reveals itself in several survival of the field? “outside world.” As Mark Bassett distinct ways. There are precedents. In 1998, Great points out, the “Big Five” tourist First is the kind of acute, straight- Britain’s National Railway Museum railroads haul over a million passengers ahead vision you want at the front of hosted the “World Railway Heritage a year. The ten most-visited railroad every train on every railroad. Or Conference” to consider the future of museums account for close to another perhaps the kind of vision you have on railroad heritage throughout the world. million, and only a fraction of those two a clear day from 25,000 feet in the air. It produced a well-argued 30-page million customers are railfans or Train Someone pretty much always needs to White Paper entitled Railways as World World folk. be looking as far into the future as they Heritage Sites, released by the I think his idea for our own “in can see as a matter of self-defense. International Council on Monuments flight” magazine is a no-brainer. Why Railroad heritage, as a field, ought to and Sites (ICOMOS) in 1999. I think couldn’t we jointly produce some sort be paying more attention to that we could benefit from a similar of outreach publication that allows us— future—the one that ranges from the approach. and not outsiders, who reflexively go next financial meltdown to a decision Somewhere convenient and for cheap thrills and old clichés—to by a federal agency to ban coal fired sometime soon (within a year), we invite people to further explore the steam locomotives. Forward vision can might gather in the fashion of the world of railroad heritage they have just also look for opportunity: What could traditional railroad commissions of the sampled? And didn’t the railroad be of advantage, generate resources or 19th Century. It would be a conference industry actually invent that concept? influence, or provide benefit? It is the of railroad heritage leadership, broadly It almost doesn’t matter or not corollary to looking for dangers—we defined. It might be fifty people, or it whether talk is cheap. Talk—of the should also be looking forward might be 250; the important point right kind, with the right people, entrepreneurially. would be to get the right folks together 6 strategically used—is one of the best American War for Independence are no investments we can make. It will repay less true for us today: “We must all TEN YEARS LATER: with compound interest. hang together, or assuredly we shall all ARM RETURNS TO hang separately.” VANCOUVER Collaboration * * * Collaboration is one of the few tools Haltingly, railroad heritage is By Aaron Isaacs we have available to reinvigorate the undergoing a fundamental field and head off what increasingly transformation. Welcome to the 21st Ten years ago ARM held its annual looks like a slow-motion train wreck. Century—and I didn’t even go near the conference at West Coast Railway And we should not allow emotion to new digital technologies that are going Museum in Squamish, British cloud good judgment regarding the to utterly transform the way we Columbia. In September 2009 we inevitable consolidations within railroad understand and deliver railroad returned to see what had changed. The heritage. The railroad industry heritage, to audiences we have not even answer is, quite a bit. In 1999 I knew embraced the idea when it made sense. I imagined. that the museum’s parent, West Coast don’t see why we shouldn’t, either. We have never been at the verge of Railway Association, was setting the We already collaborate in useful so many threats, and so many standard for business planning and fund ways. The Engineering Standards possibilities. Even in these stressful raising by railroad museums. But what Committee (on locomotive boilers) and times, the resources at our disposal has happened since then? joint ARM/TRAIN conferences are a have never been greater. Our tools have WCRA formed in 1958 and starting start. The “Day Out With Thomas” never been more versatile or powerful. in 1963 assembled a collection of program is a particular kind of And the stories we have to tell—of regional rolling stock and acquired a collaboration; so is Transportation invention, development, progress, and site, but the initial effort stalled there. Enhancement funding. The North people making new lives on and with Years passed and the collection American Railroad Foundation requires the railroad—have never been more deteriorated. Something needed to be collaboration with the projects it funds. compelling. done and it was. A new management Collaboration can take many forms. Whatever comes next is not going to group took over and its first action was It is painful to see small railroads and be easy, cheap, or without friction. But something few rail museums had ever museums ordering ties one trailer load neither have I ever seen this kind of done. They hired a consultant and did a at a time, when a consolidated order open mindedness in railroad heritage. hard-headed business plan. It answered might secure a lower price. Everyone There is a willingness to go beyond the question, “How much annual needs insurance. What would happen if what we’ve been, and imagine what we revenue is needed to maintain and we sat together with our insurance might become. I return to my sense that restore the 80-piece collection?”. providers and collectively worked 2010 is going to be a very interesting The answer was sobering, when through the issues, possibilities, and year—and sincerely hope that the real expressed in terms of capital cost and strategies? What if railroad heritage, in significance may surprise us. annual visitors. At the time the museum collaboration and as a field, worked was basically a bunch of rusted with underwriters to create a “market” equipment sitting in the weeds. Who with standard insurance products, orderly risk assessments, and fair pricing? One of the most strategic collaborations we could undertake would be a White Paper similar to the ICOMOS paper on world railway heritage sites. Our document would make formal, reasoned arguments that describe what railroad preservation is, why it matters, and what it hopes to accomplish. It would give anyone interested in Train World a sense of its core attributes. More important, it would explain to the outside world—audiences, potential funders, suppliers, politicians, news media, the railroad industry—why they should take railroad heritage seriously. But that kind of tool can only be effective and credible if it is a genuine collaboration between all segments of railroad heritage. In the Old Days—pre-9/11—railroad heritage could afford to be dispersed communities of highly individual organizations with their own identities, ways of doing things, and general disdain for cooperation. That old model is now unsustainable. There won’t be enough money to ARM conference attendees at the conference opening inside the under- duplicate efforts, or enough members to carry on the work. The words Benjamin construction roundhouse/conference center. Jim Vaitkunas photo. Franklin uttered in connection with the 7 would pay to see that? In 1994 the museum acquired its first building, the Pacific Great Eastern car shop. Located a couple of blocks away, it was moved to the museum grounds. Once in place, reroofed and equipped with utilities, it gave the museum a proper restoration facility for the first time. The first pieces were restored, including PGE Alco RSD5 #531, Canadian Pacific F-unit #4069, and the jewel of the collection, CP wood business car British Columbia. These early restorations established some credibility for the museum and gave it something to show visitors. From there the museum bootstrapped itself to financial viability with one of the most enterprising fund raising efforts yet seen in North America. It went into the rail tour business, arranging and selling tour packages all over the Canadian west. It set up “affinity” programs, enlisting local businesses to contribute a small percentage of revenues from certain sales. Thus they received a small cut of the sales of locally brewed Rail Ale, Chevrolets and occupancy of a rail- themed room at the local Super 8. It sold interest-bearing debentures to its members and naming rights to some of its coaches. Its members donated their time to work at the local casino, in exchange for what the casino would have paid its employees. The museum’s Mini-Rail 12-inch gauge trains were set up inside Vancouver’s Canada Place convention center (managed by WCRA’s Bill Watson) each Christmas, where they hauled thousands of people at $1.00 a head. Well connected politically, the museum was able to land a series of federal and provincial grants, as well as significant private donations. When ARM last visited in 1999, the museum still looked rough, despite the fund raising and what was clearly a high-functioning organization. The foundation had been laid, but the results were not yet very visible. So what has changed in the ten years since? The Squamish depot, under construction in 1999, was finished shortly thereafter, providing space for the museum offices and store, as well as a boarding point for excursions and an excellent setting for photographing rolling stock. Restoration of the Brightbill Heritage House, moved from Squamish, was completed and it is now furnished to its 1940s appearance. A viewing tower was built in the rear of the property. A great deal of site cleanup has happened, and additional pieces of rolling stock have been During the visit to West Coast Railway Heritage Park, five different complete painted and otherwise fixed up, including CP wood emigrant car #2514, trains made appearances at the Squamish depot. 8 CP Alco S3 diesel switcher #6503 and Alberta, which had spent years as a CP post office car #3704. Comox restaurant in Vancouver, has been ARM 2009 Logging 2-8-2T #16 was moved to the moved to the museum and is now CONFERENCE RECAP shop of the Kamloops Heritage Railway partially through its restoration. A for rebuilding. A three-track yard was private party donated three lightweight By Don Evans, WCRA added next to the Squamish depot and a coaches and two F-units from the CN- new interchange track to the adjacent painted Waterloo & St. Jacobs tourist Wednesday, September 16 started it CN was completed. The ex-PGE car train in Quebec and the first two all off. Most of the 112 delegates had shop received a new floor and roof, an coaches have arrived in Squamish. arrived and were checked in at the two exterior repaint and a 15-ton overhead Today the collection breaks down hotels -most at the Garibaldi Springs crane. like this: Executive Inn and the remainder at the To raise more funds, the museum 3 Steam locomotives Mountain Retreat Hotel and Suites. leased its CP F-unit #4069 and its CP 12 Diesel locomotives, including 2 More than 70 had gone off on the two open-air mountain observation car #598 RDC cars pre-conference tours—the “Electric first to the Royal Hudson train and later 1 electric locomotive Tour” and the BC Museum of Mining to the Whistler Mountaineer excursion 17 passenger cars tour. The shuttle buses between the train that runs over BC Rail from North 15 freight cars Heritage Park and the hotels, operated Vancouver to the Whistler Mountain 18 maintenance of way by Blue & White Coach Lines were in resort. 4 cabooses service. It was all coming together. WCRA took over operation of the A 1615 the buses started arriving at 374 Pavilion at the Drake Street Previous owners: the MP Shop tracks and the guests were Roundhouse. Owned by the City of 12 Canadian National boarding the train. It was raining, but Vancouver, the pavilion features CP 19 Canadian Pacific happily this would be the only time we 4-4-0 #374, first locomotive to reach 28 Pacific Great Eastern/BC Rail would get wet during the conference. Vancouver. The Pavilion provides 2 British Columbia Electric The train wasn’t quite the Super WCRA with a marketing outlet much 2 Great Northern Continental we had envisioned, as the F closer to the province’s population 6 Other units still were still not delivered from center. The biggest project, partially the east, but we had PGE 561 pulling Hometown railroad BC Rail, complete when we arrived this year, is our two recently arrived ex-CN formerly the Pacific Great Eastern, was a new $4 million roundhouse. The coaches, so it was as close as we could absorbed into Canadian National in recession slowed it down, but recently come. At exactly 1630, conductor Roy 2004. This rendered the nearby the federal government approved Crowston gave engineer John Jellis the Squamish shop complex surplus. In enough money to complete it. It will “highball” and we were off to the Mac 2005, the museum leased the MP1 shop house about seven pieces of equipment Norris Station for the official arrival of building within the complex. It stored and will serve as a revenue generating the delegates for the start of the some equipment there and subleased the conference center. conference. rest to seven small tenants to offset the With all these changes, museum As the train rolled into the platform rental cost. At the time, the adjacent attendance increased from 27,400 in of the Mac Norris Station, we newer MP2 shop building was available 1999 to an estimated 71,000 in 2009. demonstrated the first of the changed but too expensive to lease. That changed in 2009 when the MP1 building was leveled for environmental remediation. WCRA now has a three- year lease of the MP2 shop and has subleased about half of it, which covers the cost. It provides a maintenance base for the museum’s operating trains. Nine pieces of equipment can fit in the shop building. Despite disposing of six deteriorated pieces, the rolling stock collection has grown to 95 pieces. In 2002, the provincially-operated Royal Hudson train from North Vancouver to Squamish was discontinued as an economy move. CP 4-6-4 #2860 joined the museum collection under a lease from the province to the City of Squamish, along with several of the early CP lightweight cars that were part of its train. A major fund-raising effort returned the Royal Hudson to service last year. Two Budd RDC cars were acquired from BC Rail and one has been returned to its PGE Caribou Dayliner colors. Canadian Pacific donated pioneer Baldwin diesel #8000, one of a group that dieselized subsidiary Equimault & Nanaimo on Vancouver Canadian Pacific business car Alberta under restoration inside the ex-Pacific Island. CP heavyweight business car Great Eastern carshop. 9 time at 1010 she arrived, backed down the pass track and coupled onto our three cars. We had access to the open car #598 Henry Pickering en route as well. The climb up the spectacular Cheakamus Canyon was a highlight for our guests, and we arrived Whistler around 1200. Our buses were waiting and we headed over to the village and up Whistler Mountain for lunch and an afternoon of exploration. Most rode the new Peak to Peak gondola and enjoyed the mountain and village before re boarding our buses for the ride back to Squamish and the evening. Saturday September 19—It had been a disappointment for us all to learn that a labour dispute on CN had scuttled plans to head for Vancouver on board WCRA’s Vancouver outpost is the Drake Street Roundhouse, home to Canadian the Royal Hudson steam train, but we Pacific 4-4-0 #374, first locomotive to reach the city. Thanks to steam and were determined to make the best of it compressed air, it put on a fine show for the visitors. Jim Vaitkunas photo. regardless. So, as the day dawned fresh from overnight rain and the skies cleared, it was perfect conditions for scenes—different from the arrival of different presenters, several of which steam—and steam it would be as Royal ARM 1999 ten years ago. This time the are summarized elsewhere in this issue. Hudson #2860 put on a show for the train was our own (not BC Rail’s) and Box lunches were served and the Budd delegates with four runs between the the station itself was completed and car train shuttled back and forth again Mac Norris Station and the MP shop. operating (in 1999 it was a plywood between the Heritage Park and the Eight had their names drawn for cab shell under construction). In spite of the shops over lunch time. rides this morning, and the crisp air rain, it was a grand arrival in full style. Seminars over at 1430, the made for a steam show to remember. The crowd made their way to the remainder of the day was the visit to the At 0900 we boarded the buses and PGE carshop, which was all set up for host museum. The Heritage Park was in headed for an active day in Vancouver. the opening reception, and settled in for full operational mode, with all activities Our first stop was at the Locomotive a great opening. The conference operating. Our guests rode the mini rail, #374 Pavilion, where we presented our exhibitors were set up on the west side saw the Garden Railway and HO scale way of marketing our museum in of the building, while Tracks 1 and 2 trains in operation, toured the exhibits, Squamish from a downtown Vancouver were occupied at the south end by the visited Vivian at the Brightbill Heritage location. The 374 Pavilion volunteers 1890 business car British Columbia and House, and enjoyed all the Heritage had #374 outside on the beautiful the 1929 car Alberta, which had just Park had to offer. All the time, PGE morning, blowing off steam and been painted and was quite an RSC-3 #561 performed on the mainline sounding her whistle for all in the attraction. The north end was set up with a 1950’s freight consist. At 1600 neighbourhood to hear. with the buffet tables and rounds with the delegates gathered at Royal Hudson Then we were off to a lunch and tour chairs for all, while the stage was in the #2860, which was steamed up, for the at the Rocky Mountaineer’s Vancouver northeast corner. The whole thing annual conference group photo. station, the former 1954 CN Diesel exuded railway ambiance and worked The evening was also held at the Shop that had been turned into a station well, with live entertainment by the Heritage Park, where the Lions Club of and community facility. We toured the Kettle Valley Brakemen. Squamish opened their lounge car Rocky Mountaineer train’s Gold Leaf, Thursday, September 17—The Discovery to the delegates as a place of Red Leaf and lounge car services. Our Official opening, seminars and host social enjoyment, and then they thanks to Rocky Mountaineer museum day. After a hot buffet provided a barbecue dinner. After Vacations for their sponsorship and breakfast, the crowd moved into the dinner, the shuttle buses operated to the support of the conference. new CN Roundhouse & Conference hotels, but many stayed behind to see Next, we headed for a ride on Centre for the official opening of the the Museums Show and Tell. Vancouver’s SkyTrain and SeaBus, conference. Once again a first, as this Friday, September 18—seminars and courtesy of TransLink who provided all became the first official function ever then off to Whistler! The morning the delegates with a Faresaver pass. We held in the new facility. The delegates started off with breakfast in the PGE boarded a train at VCC Clark station were welcomed by Bob LaPrelle, Car Shop, followed by one round of and then rode all the way around on President of ARM, then Greg Gardner, seminars, including passenger car both the Millennium and Expo lines, Mayor of Squamish, and by Colin restoration and steam locomotive arriving at Vancouver's Waterfront Smith, Chair of the WCRA Board. This maintenance. Meanwhile, CPR FP7A station. Here we changed onto the accomplished, and the conference #4069 moved her train to the platform SeaBus for a ride across the harbour on declared officially open, the crowd of the Mac Norris Station and we all this sunny afternoon. Our motor headed for the Mac Norris Station and climbed aboard for the trip to Whistler. coaches were waiting at North boarded the Budd RDC train for their We departed the station at 0945 and Vancouver, and we headed back for ride over to the MP2 Shop, where we pulled out of the Heritage Park and Squamish after a great day in the city. seminars were to be held this morning onto the MP2 shop track where #4069 After time to change and freshen up, and early afternoon. A series of uncoupled and we awaited the arrival of we were set for the gala banquet. Susan seminars were presented by many the Whistler Mountaineer. Right on Steen and her team had the PGE 10 Carshop all decorated up in grand style, usually brings to mind the work of entirely new configurations during their with the tables all set beautifully. skilled craftspeople laboring to bring an lifetimes, with only the original frame Centre pieces were made for each table object back to life, developing and remaining. Many also served multiple by the West Coast Model Railroaders. following a thoughtfully crafted plan is owners, and different paint schemes As the crowd arrived, the bar was open the real key to a successful project. were often associated with specific and the social time started. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior equipment configurations and owners. Following dinner, Susan Steen led defines restoration as “the act or process The key to answering the restoration era the group through the custom of making of accurately depicting the form, question is your research and your a Toast to the Queen, and then it was features, and character of a property as exhibit goals. time for dessert before the introduction it appeared at a particular period of time If back-dating to an earlier of our special guest speaker. by means of the removal of features appearance is being considered, what Don Evans introduced Peter from other periods in its history and modifications would be required? What Armstrong, the Executive Chairman reconstruction of missing features from are the differences between the car’s and CEO of the Armstrong Group— the restoration period”. In cases where present configuration and the desired known better to the group as the it has been determined that restoration restoration era? These issues and their founder and creator of Rocky is the most appropriate treatment for a impacts on the scope of the proposed Mountaineer Railtours. Peter told railcar, the most important decision in project should be thoroughly reviewed. several aspects of the story of the any such project is to develop a clear Compromises between historical creation of North America’s most understanding of the desired outcome accuracy and available resources are successful private passenger rail prior to starting any work. Only then sometimes necessary. If such a operation, and also talked a bit about can you create a solid plan to achieve compromise is proposed, its the future of rail as he saw it. Following your goals. justification should be well documented the speaker, Ken Rucker spent a few Questions to be answered in in the restoration plan. minutes talking about ARM 2010, developing a railcar restoration plan To what degree will components be which will be held in Maryland. typically include: replaced versus repaired? How restored Sunday, September 20—To start the What is the car’s history? Start with is restored? What patina or alterations day off right, the Lions Club of a thorough written assessment of the to the ‘historic imperfections’ that the Squamish cooked up a fresh pancake car’s current condition (the Condition car acquired in service will be lost breakfast, and then most headed off to Report) and compile as much data as during the course of restoration? In the ARM Annual meeting, which was possible about its service history. many cases, exact replacements for held in the meeting room of the Mac Research the details of any rebuildings certain original materials are extremely Norris Station. At around 0945, the last (and potentially different hard to find. This is particularly true of of the operating train sets made an configurations) it may have had during wood, both structural and finish. The appearance for the crowd, this time its lifetime. Find out if there are similar materials and techniques that were featuring CPR S3 #6503 and a freight cars preserved elsewhere and go to see common when the car was built may train arriving at the station. them if possible. simply be unavailable today. The And, then it was over! At 1000, the How will the restored car be used? Is availability of replacement materials first bus departed for Vancouver, and at it being restored for a specific exhibit? must therefore be considered whether to 1100 the next group left, most destined Will it be operated or just a static repair or replace. for the vintage trolley bus tour of display? If it is to be operated, what What resources are required to Vancouver. The feedback from the kind of operating environment will it be complete the project? This would delegates was very good, and we used in? What safety standards will be include a review of specialty trades and were—although all exhausted— applicable? Cars which are to be vendors required in addition to in-house delighted to have been able to host operated will require a comprehensive labor and management resources. How ARM 2009, and to have done it in our mechanical restoration plan to be will the project be budgeted and own unique way. developed in addition to work on the funded? We would recommend the carbody, and the two must be General Thoughts on the Restoration experience to any museum, as you considered together. Even for static Process (or “We Took it Apart and really get a chance to learn from others displays, consideration must be given to Found Out it was Too Much Work”) and to experience organizing a major some mechanical systems to ensure the Expect the unexpected. The true event. Not to be overlooked as well, is car can be moved, and for things like condition of an historic railcar may not that the deadlines imposed and the lighting. be fully known until it is actually desire to show off thongs to your best If the car is to be a static display, will disassembled as part of the restoration of ability hastens along projects that are it be sheltered in a building or be process. When planning a restoration, nearing completion, thus benefitting the outdoors exposed to the elements? If it one must accept that there will always entire operation of your museum and is to be exposed to the elements, be an element of the unknown inherent your everyday guests. A hearty thank fasteners, caulks, paints and varnishes in the job, especially when it comes to you to all of the Heritage Park’s staff will need to be even more robust than the condition of structure and and volunteers, to our guests, and to on the original. It may also not be worth components hidden from view. This is ARM for this opportunity. applying an ornate period paint scheme why it is so important to make your if the car is going to spend its life restoration plan as detailed as possible. outdoors. As part of creating your restoration ARM CONFERENCE What era will the car be restored to? plan, have people who have been SEMINARS Because almost all railroad equipment through the process before look at the was continuously rebuilt throughout its car with you. A knowledgeable set of career, there are typically several eyes can usually discern enough to Project Manager’s Guide to Railcar possible configurations for a create a reasonable expectation of what Restoration Planning restoration, any of which could be will be found when disassembly takes By John Smatlak “historically accurate” for a given point place. Some very carefully targeted While the thought of “restoration” in time. Many railcars were rebuilt into disassembly might also accompany the 11 inspection in certain cases. However, Likewise, as each component is treated view the granting process ultimately avoid the temptation to start taking the in the restoration process, this should results in higher rate of success. car apart before your project is fully also be photographed. Then it should be Planning leads to better proposal planned and properly funded. done again as re-assembly takes place. writing. Remember that the car itself remains The photographs should be What are foundations? There are the ideal record of the arrangement, fit accompanied by a detailed journal of several types. Family foundations, and finish of the artifact, as well as the what was done, discoveries made while specific need foundations, corporate techniques used to build it. It is always doing the work, questions raised, foundations, community foundations recommended that the time period materials and tools that were used by and other institutional funders. Other between disassembly and restoration be the builder and the restorer, sources and potential funders include the held to the absolute minimum. The types of materials used, and justification government, unions, employee funds longer a car sits inactive in a for compromises that were made during and service clubs. disassembled state, the more chance the process. This documentation can be The most important first step is to there is for parts and information to used to verify the authenticity of the match your project with the funder’s become lost. process as well as to report progress to priorities. All funders give only to Custom fit. It is also worth noting project sponsors and supporters. particular types of projects. Sending that all rail equipment was to some General resources. If you are proposals for something else is a degree custom. Even in large fleets of considering a railcar restoration, you are complete waste of time. Most funders similar cars, body parts were typically not alone. There is a large network of make their guidelines known via custom fit to a specific location and railway and trolley museums located websites or other means. They also will marked accordingly to aid reassembly throughout the world. In addition to provide lists of previous grants. during overhauls. During restoration, knowledgeable personnel, many of It’s important to establish a even where parts are carefully restricted these institutions have published relationship with the funder. Sending in to their original locations, reassembly extensive information about restoration applications cold is seldom successful. always takes longer than initial projects in their newsletters. Other Begin with a letter of inquiry and, if disassembly. Time and previous repairs publications of interest include back they permit it, an introduction phone cause once straight components to sag issues of Locomotive & Railway call. Confirm the deadlines for or twist, parts which have worn in Preservation (no longer in print), the receiving applications, proposal together fit differently when restored, Association of Railway Museums requirements, funding interests and and in general, fitting new components Recommended Practices document, as exclusions. Introduce yourself and test onto old structure is always challenging. well as ARM’s Railway Museum the project idea. A good rule of thumb is that properly Quarterly magazine. After the initial contact, try to set up reinstalling a given part will take at It may also be possible to find the a meeting. The goal is to tailor the least five times as long as it took to original builder’s plans for your car. package to the funder’s interests. When remove it in the first place (rusted Illinois Railway Museum, for example, writing the proposal, always follow the fasteners excepted, perhaps). has an extensive library of plans from application guidelines. However, there Craftsmanship takes time. It is also the Pullman Company and its are several standard elements that must important to understand that you cannot subsidiaries. The railroad industry itself be included. rush craftsmanship, particular where it also produced a great deal of written Cover Letter: It should be no more involves wood and fine finishes on documentation ranging from textbooks than two pages, signed by the CEO or custom components. It’s not like to weekly periodicals. For many years Board Chair. Briefly explain how the stamping out widgets on a machine. A the industry also produced the Car project matches the funding interests. proper job takes the time it takes, and Builder’s Cyclopedia and the Focus on impact/outcomes – “who will that time is typically longer than was Locomotive Cyclopedia, exhaustively benefit?” Promote the project. Sample: estimated up front. The quality and detailing cars, locomotives and all of “As CEO of the Whitby Public Library, efficiency of the work is also a function their component parts. These I am writing to introduce you to an of having a proper plan, the right tools, publications are available from exciting project that we are developing and an adequate workspace. The museums and private collectors, and that will meet the needs of prudent project planner includes an some have even been reprinted or disadvantaged youth in our community. appropriate contingency factor when scanned for internet access. Examples The object of this project is to develop budgeting resources for restoration of useful reprints include a group of the internet job search skills of work. mechanical guides relating to unemployed youth. Recognizing this Environmental issues. Like other restoration of passenger equipment objective meets your foundation’s industrial artifacts of the same era, from the Tourist Railway Association, primary focus, I am requesting your railway equipment was painted and and the reprint of Voss’ definitive financial support in this community insulated with the types of industrial wooden car construction book Railway initiative.” materials and finishes that were Car Construction 1892 by the Orange Executive Summary: It should stand prevalent at the time. Today, we know Empire Railway Museum. Maintenance alone as a two page over-view of the that some of these materials pose health Guide for Electric Railway Equipment whole project. Succinctly provide a risks if allowed to deteriorate or be (1929) ARM, Street Railway summary of the issue addressed, the improperly handled, and so it is prudent Equipment-Mechanical and Electrical approach to solving the problem, the to plan for the use of qualified Sections (New Orleans-ARM). The list impact the program will have. Stress personnel and proper techniques in their goes on and on. your credibility, your partners and your encapsulation or removal during qualification. Be visionary and forward restoration. Writing Effective Grant Proposals looking. In the introductory paragraph, Documentation. Using your initial By Susan Steen establish who you are and what you do, Condition Report as the baseline, every your mission and values, your clients, type of component and area of the car Writing grant proposals is more an stakeholders and your successes. should be photographed from as many art than a science. That said, it requires Assessment of Need: How did you angles as possible during disassembly. a systematic approach. Understanding identify the need? What research did how foundations work and how they 12 BCER INTERURBANS COME HOME Quietly, over a couple of decades, the expatriate interurbans of the British Columbia Electric Railway have returned home from their diaspora in the United States. Home to the last big group of wood interurbans running in North America, BCER ended its passenger service in 1958 (Chicago, Aurora & Elgin owned many wood cars, but quit in 1957. Hershey Cuban kept running, but isn’t mainland North America.) Of the seven surviving cars, six wound up in the states. All have returned to cities along the BCER. All have been or are being restored, and all but one is housed in a building. 1207 (1907 BCER New Westminster Shop). Sold 1958 to individuals at Puget Sound Railway Historical Society, Snoqualmie Falls, WA. Purchased 1990 by B. C. Transit. Restored and returned to service 1998 on the Vancouver Downtown Historic Railway. 1220 (1913 St. Louis) Sold 1959 to Trolleyland Electric Railway, near Olympia, WA. Purchased by Province of British Columbia in 1975. Purchased by Steveston Interurban Restoration Society (SIRS), which restored the car beginning in 1993. The City of Richmond purchased it in 2006. After the purchase, it severed the relationship with SIRS amidst much controversy. Reportedly, the car is stored outdoors and is now neglected. 1223 (1913 St. Louis) Became stationary outdoor exhibit in 1958, owned by City of Burnaby. Moved in 1971 to Burnaby Village Museum. “Friends of Interurban 1223” organized in 1999, restored car inside new building. Completed restoration in 2007. 1225 (1913 St. Louis) Acquired in 1958 by Orange Empire Railway Museum. Purchased 2005 by Fraser Valley Railway Museum in Surrey, BC. Restoration underway. 1231 (1913 St. Louis) Sold 1959 to Trolleyland Electric Railway, near Olympia, WA. Purchased by Province of British Columbia in 1975. Restored beginning in 1991 in Victoria by B. C. Transit. Returned to service 1999 on the Downtown Historic Railway. 1235 (1913 St. Louis) Sold 1959 to Trolleyland Electric Railway, near Olympia, WA. Purchased by Province of British Columbia in 1975 and now at the Canada Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa. 1304 (1911 BCER New Westminster Shop). Rebuilt in 1948 after a major fire, the last mostly new wood interurban built in North America. Purchased by Seashore Trolley Museum but housed at Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society in Glenwood, OR (later Brooks, OR). Sold to Fraser Valley Railway Museum in Surrey, BC in 2009. Awaiting restoration.

BC Electric interurbans return home.

Above left: #1223 at Burnaby Village Museum, with original BCER Vorce station.

Above right: #1231 and (not pictured) #1207 at Vancouver’s Downtown Historic Railway.

Left: #1304 and #1225 at Fraser Valley Railway Museum in Surrey, along with replica of the Sullivan station.

13 you undertake to come to this spelling and grammar. and threats? conclusion? How will you solve the Follow up: Persistence Pays off. Find By identifying them, we begin with a problem? What might happen if the out why your proposal was declined. solid assessment of the starting point issue is not solved? Give you Get feedback on their review and for the plan – from both internal and stakeholders a voice. appraisal. Write a thank you note for external perspectives. It also assures The Project Description: What are their consideration. Make note of the that we don’t leave behind things we the project’s goals and objectives? next deadline. Make suggested are really good at today. What is your methodology for modifications and re-submit. 2. What is our vision for the future? achieving those goals and objectives? When they say yes (after you have Where do we want to be? Choose your How will the project be staffed? How called your boss): Confirm recognition destination. This is essential to the will it be evaluated? requirements. Add them to your mailing development of a plan, determining Goals: Start with vision statements, list. Steward the relationship as with an what you want your museum to be and broad ideas that begin with phrases such individual donor. Report back on the who it is for. Recognize that this will as, “To enhance, to provide, to improve, use of the funds. change over time as the museum to advance….”. Some more general rules: progresses. Define your mission and Objectives: How are you going to Donors gives to ideas and people. You values. What is the purpose of the accomplish your goals? Objectives have to meet the donor’s needs. organization? What’s important to us in should be clear, distinct, differentiated. Treat a donor of valuable artifacts as a how we do things? They should be measurable. Begin with future monetary donor. 3. How do we get there? Select core phrases like, “To increase/decrease”, Keep to your core values. Don’t strategies and 3-year goal statements. “To reduce/eliminate” or “To compromise them to pursue grants. Then set specific 1 year objectives. recruit/train/upgrade”. Objectives If you ask for money, you may get Implementing and using a strategic should be specific immediate, advice instead. Ask for advice and plan measurable, practical, logical, you may get money. Communicate the plan to your achievable, realistic, tangible. People don’t give to the desperate. members. They are most interested in Outcomes: Outcomes are the result Everybody on your board is charged where the organization (and their of an activity, rather than the activity with producing revenue. collections typically) are headed. itself. For example. improved literacy You have no idea who the donors are, Review progress at every board or levels as a result of a summer reading so treat everyone like a millionaire. management committee meeting. program for children. They describe the Have a planned giving program. Keeping the plan and its objectives result of the investment. Have a live person answering your front and center helps keep focus on Methodology: These are your phone. priorities and aids achievement. Keep at methods, strategies, action plans and Respond to donations immediately and the annual reviews for progress. work plans. Explain why each activity personally. Don’t be shy about asking Achievement of objectives is the reason was selected. Provide a schedule of stakeholders to do more. for planning and setting goals in the activities & phases. first place, resetting each year keeps Staffing: Who is the project team Strategic Planning to Drive things progressing. Changes and management? How are they uniquely Museum Development progress will happen! qualified to take on this issue? State (Especially in Tough Times) Starting a strategic plan their credibility, experience, By Don Evans Making it happen…. qualifications and special skills. Who Why strategic planning? Making a decision to proceed – takes responsibility for what areas? Railway preservation is a long-term typically the Board of Directors or Who is the key contact for the funder? endeavour. We need to look beyond Management Committee needs to Evaluation: Who will be doing the ourselves and think about the future. determine and agree that a plan for the evaluation and when? What info will be Planning makes us more effective. It future is needed. The organization collected and how? What are the increases our focus and helps us keep needs to want to set the course for its methods of measuring success: surveys, on track. We make better use of our future and sees value in doing this. questionnaires, interviews, media hard to find resources. We use hard- Consider engaging an expert – someone coverage, photos, testimonials, levels of won funds more effectively. Planning from outside your organization participation. sets a common direction and develops typically can assist in very significant The Budget: It should be consistent consensus – important to achieving our ways. While it is true that an outside with the project description. Outline future. It aids communications with view is often hard for insiders to take, total costs of the project and what is members and communities. A strong that person can ask the tough questions being requested of the funder. plan--with evidence that it is being that need to be asked. Remember that Differentiate between dollars and in- followed--is a very effective tool for creating a plan doesn’t need to be kind contributions. How much goes to fundraising and support from needed expensive. overhead, infrastructure and constituencies Positioning the strategic plan contingency. Creating a strategic plan The Strategic Plan becomes the Attachments: Enclose the Annual A fundamental planning process highest level document for the Report, audited financial statements, answers these questions. organization, and drives all other organizational budget, Board of 1. Where are we today? aspects of the operational cycle. It Directors list, charitable number, 2. Where are we going? identifies any specific operational plans mission, program outlines, community 3. How do we get there? needed, such as Marketing, Collection, partners, advisory groups, volunteer 4. Results / Review / Renew Museum Site Development, Operations, resources, donor lists, future plans. Staffing, etc. The strategic plan Proposal Appaisal: Leave enough The Strategic Plan is owned by the precedes and drives the budget process time for review before submitting the Museum. It starts by asking several (as it sets the key priorities). It proposal. Have it looked at by a second questions. identifies fundraising needs and plans, set of eyes. Check formatting – is it 1. Where are we today? What are our and provides the base data for the easy to read? Check language, jargon, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities fundraising “case”. 14 Keeping your museum on track honest about the reality of the time. receipt for the evaluated amount of the A strong Strategic Plan can help your Keep the strategic (directional) message donation, and will be recognized when museum develop and operate in good simple and frequent – don’t let the big their item is used. times and bad: goals get lost. Use the plan as a guide, How can the donor be assured that –Better – both operationally and and keep the plan dynamic, make the collection will be preserved in an financially adjustments on the go as needed to deal archive or museum? By specifying it in –Faster – because you know what your with the current situation. Keep doing their legal will (this is the only way to priorities are and stick to them (don’t fall into analysis paralysis). be absolutely sure). –More professionally – what Bequeathing of Collections- Yet only 47% of us have a legal will, fundraisers (and your guests) are after A Looming Crisis? and 15% of us die without a will at all. A strong Strategic Plan increases the Donors should check out which chances of long term survival for your By M. Peter Murphy institution they wish to become the museum. “There are hundreds of thousands of custodians of their collections and name Who is our museum for? North American railway enthusiasts them in their will. -Ourselves - Our own nostalgia and born in the 1930’s and 1940’s expected To become more professional as memories to reach the end of their natural lives at archivists, railway museum archives -Families – For Entertainment / roughly the same time. There will be a should: Engagement / Education huge glut of railroadiana including Try to become affiliated with -Tourists – Looking for diversity and photographs to be disposed of. This provincial/state/federal archives for local learning poses a major problem for both the status and funding. -Community – a site for community donor and railway archives.” Have a professional staff use, heritage as well as arts and The Railway Magazine, UK (archivist/curator). culture, many special events Have proper climate controlled -Young People – a key to the future, In this article we take a look at the facilities. need a fast grab and new technology donors’ options, and what railway Promote the complete documentation or approaches, active engagement museum archives can do to prepare for cataloguing of all archival items and Example: West Coast Railway this eventuality. artifacts. Heritage Park’s vision: Collections can include many Be open to the public, even on a limited The West Coast Railway Heritage different types of items. basis. Park is a leading North American Photographs (slides, negatives, prints, Make collections available via exhibit, attraction that presents British movies) publication and on line. Columbia’s railway heritage in a Paper documentation (documents, Have a collections committee to beautiful natural setting. We plan to be: timetables, postcards, menus, train manage the museum’s collections. One of British Columbia’s top ten orders, etc) tourist attractions Drawings/plans Exporail’s committee consists of -Canada’s #1 railway heritage attraction Art (oil paintings, water colours, etc.) eight members, volunteer experts in -One of North America’s top ten Railroad subject prints various fields. Included are the museum railway heritage attractions Three-dimensional items (lanterns, curator, the museum archivist, the -A business model example that china, etc.) museum executive-director, and the inspires others in the sector of railway Models (locomotives and cars, various president of the association. It may preservation gauges, structures, layouts, etc.) solicit outside expert opinion. WCRA’s core strategies (since 1991) When a collector decides to dispose The museum should have a -To succeed as a self funded and self- of a collection or passes away is a collections management policy, so it sustaining non-profit model critical time. After years of security, the can determine the purpose and scope of organization collection is at risk of loss. If the collections to acquire, document, -To have well trained, customer focused collection is passed on to a friend in the restore and preserve, use and access, staff same age group, it is temporarily safe, and deaccession. -To add something new every year but the moment of reckoning will recur There should be a collections -To have high standards of preservation again soon. If it is passed on to a procedure that tells you how you go and presentation younger friend who isn’t passionate about considering a donation. -To develop a world centre for about the collection, it might be lost. It The committee should identify ‘holes education / research may be thrown out by family or in the collection’, and create a ‘want -To be a major contributor to the executors who don’t understand its list’ of objects, documents, or other Squamish community value and view it as ‘junk’. It could be items missing from the collection. It To create a true living heritage broken up and auctioned off, perhaps at should direct the archivist or curator to experience, telling the story of how the a garage sale or train show. Or procure them if possible. railways created Western Canada’s (hopefully) it will be donated to a It’s important to identify potential communities and economies reputable railway museum with an donors. They may be long time Dealing with changes and challenges archive facility. Even if donated to a members possessing a well-known Expect things to change, keep the good museum, the collection is not collection, or a little known collection. plan dynamic and adjust as needed as necessarily safe. The museum may It may be materials collected by another you go. Always have contingency plans dispose of items which don’t conform railroad or non-railroad museum, but available. Keep the master vision clear to its mandate and collections policy. surplus to their needs. Solicit donations and visible. Constantly search for new Once a collection is formally while the donor is alive. The ideas. Communicate frequently and accessioned by the museum, it will be archivist/curator should meet with the update all constituents. permanently preserved for future potential donor before a will is Staying the course (in tough times) generations, and will be available to finalized, to mutually agree on Confront the facts and make researchers, historians, students, etc. Its conditions, expectations, etc. They adjustments, but keep the core direction objects available for public display. The benefit from their charitable tax receipt clear and still optimistic. Be candid and donor will be able to receive a tax during their lifetime. The donor can 15 ‘purge’ his own collection before reproduction / exhibition rights if less the early 19th century to the present. donating. Solicit a monetary donation to than 50 years old The NMRA was organized in 1935 and help pay the cost of storing and curating Statement that organization reserves has 20,000 members worldwide. There the collection. the right not to issue a tax receipt in are an estimated 250,000 active model Donation procedures for the donor excess of appraised value railroaders. The parties have The museum cannot accept Unanswered questions additionally agreed to explore possible everything (even from long time How will archives deal with the relocation of the NMRA’s library members). Donations may be refused digital camera era? There is no limit to collection, currently housed in because of poor condition, duplication, enthusiasts’ picture taking! Electronic Chattanooga, Tennessee, next to the irrelevance to the museum’s collection media storage is not totally proven Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, to policy, or other reasons. Contact the (over the long term) and ever changing. Sacramento. The collection would be archivist or curator – or a member of How do we conserve large collections administered by the staff of the CSRM the collections committee with your into the future (including electronic)? Library. offer. Only the archivist or curator can Should ARM take a leading role in make the decision whether to accept or trying to find solutions to this dilemma? Connecticut Trolley Museum reject a donation (except major items). Remember East Windsor, CT Provide a detailed written list, The museum’s collections are its The museum was founded by the photograph(s), historical pedigree of the most important asset. They are held in a Connecticut Valley Chapter of NRHS items, or bring them to the museum by public trust and must be protected for in 1940. Eventually the two appointment. Supply proof of future generations. Railway museums organizations separated. Recently, ownership or sign a declaration that you should strive to store and display formal cooperation between the two have been the legal owner of the goods collections consistent with professional group has begun again. The chapter has for at least three years standards. Railway museum collections been promoting the museum at its If the museum accepts an are extensive and diverse in events and chapter members have unconditional donation and no tax composition, size and condition – begun volunteering at the museum. In receipt is desired, simply sign a factors which may present many return, the museum will give the donation contract. If a tax receipt is challenges. Museum collections should chapter space for its office, archives desired, the donation must accepted by be re-evaluated every 10 years to and meetings. the archivist or curator, who will sign a identify duplicates, review condition, donation contract. The museum will museum’s mandate is being respected. Fort Smith Trolley Museum inform an independent arms-length Fort Smith, AR evaluator if the value is over $1000. The Hillcrest Merchants Association The evaluator documents and evaluates THE MUSEUM REVIEW of Little Rock has donated the bodies of the item(s), provides a written Capitol Transportation Company single truck Birneys #305 and #310 to the evaluation with the first page signed, all Bluegrass Railroad Museum other pages initialed (three original museum. The goal is to restore #305 Versailles, KY using parts from both cars. copies). The evaluator declares he has Here’s a new event idea—Bluegrass no interest in the donation, that this is appears to have run the first geocaching Friends of the East Broad Top an arms-length evaluation. The cost of train. What is geochaching? According Volunteers have been working on the evaluation must be borne by the to www.geocaching.com, “Geocaching EBT combine #14. Although stored donor. is a high-tech treasure hunting game indoors, it was in deteriorated condition Under Canadian law, the museum played throughout the world by and has not been operational for years. must conserve the item (if a tax receipt adventure seekers equipped with GPS Here’s a summary of the latest work is issued) for a minimum period of ten devices. The basic idea is to locate from the Friends newsletter. “This year years. The museum processes the hidden containers, called geocaches, the focus of work was repair and paperwork and issues the tax receipt to outdoors and then share your alignment of the wood framework of the donor. This all takes time. The experiences online. Geocaching is the passenger car body. The frame of donor can’t donate in mid-December enjoyed by people from all age groups, the combine, exposed after FEBT and expect a tax receipt for that fiscal with a strong sense of community and volunteers removed the car’s exterior year. support for the environment. Once you and interior walls, windows, floor and The donation contract should have found a geocache, sign the trucks, exhibited a number of include: logbook and return the geocache to its significant structural problems. Past Date original location. Afterward, share your repairs to the side sills, imperfect Organization’s name / address / geocaching stories and photos online!” adjustment of the car’s metal tension signing officer The special train ran on September and truss rods, and uneven wear and Donors name / address / signature 27 and attracted about 170 people. tear from operation had produced a Attestation that donor owns the Three cache sites were set up along the noticeable twist in the car’s frame. property, and has owned it for at least railroad, each with six caches. Measurements of the car body’s length the past 3 years differed, depending on whether the Description of the property (as much California State Railroad Museum length was measured at the top or the detail as possible) Sacramento, CA bottom of the car side—and which side Description of encumbrances / The National Model Railroad was measured. Both end platforms had restrictions / copyright, etc. Association (NMRA) and California suffered damage and deterioration. Donor’s desired credit line State Parks have signed a Memorandum Portions of the wood car and truck Statement of transfer of ownership of Understanding for development of a bolsters had nearly disintegrated. Statement that donation is model railroading exhibit at CSRM. During the past year our volunteers irrevocable The MOU anticipates a 3,500 square repaired the end platforms and installed Statement to indemnify and save foot exhibit to be designed and new end beams, repaired the wood side harmless constructed by the NMRA in the sills, and realigned the combine’s Statement granting publication / Roundhouse Gallery. It will trace the framework. Weight is being applied to history of scale model railroading from 16 remove a small dip at one end of the 1982 and converted to the power car of sample of the photos are at underframe. New oak bolster a two-car rail grinding train. It was www.madrivermuseum.org under the components have been fabricated. donated to the museum in 2002. This Special Events tab. Preparations are now underway for year the interior was stripped and installation of hidden reinforcement for repainted. The exterior sheet metal was Minnesota Streetcar Museum the car sides and roof; sheathing for the repaired and painted. A defective Minneapolis, MN combine’s roof, floor and sides will armature was replaced, stuck windows The museum completed installation follow. made operational, half the body lights of a fire suppression sprinkler system in Among the materials scheduled for replaced and perimeter seats were the George Isaacs carbarn and shop in purchase this winter is rattan to cover installed. Minneapolis. It took almost a year for no. 14’s seats. Through our After years of fund raising and the system to be finished mainly membership in the Association of staged construction, Carbarn 4 has been because of distance to the nearest water Railway Museums, FEBT has connected to the rest of the museum’s main. Activation of the sprinkler identified what is reputed to be the only track and filled with rolling stock. The system also entailed the installation of a remaining source for new rattan. We six-track building houses 19 cars, completely new fire and intrusion plan to buy sufficient rattan to also leaving only a handful of pieces detection system in the carbarn. Total restore the seats of EBT combines 15, outdoors. cost of the project was around $90,000. 16 and 18. In 2010, plans are to purchase Illinois Railway Museum Monticello Railway Museum materials needed to repair the Union, IL Monticello, IL underframe and roof framework; to As suburban development nears the The museum has acquired Wabash sheath the roof, exterior and interior museum, IRM has been buying up heavyweight business car #6. sides; and to repair door posts and sills. adjacent land to create a buffer against future hostile neighbors. On November Museum of Transportation The total estimated cost of materials St. Louis, MO needed next year for this project is 20, it closed on the 89-acre Siegel farm. The property abuts the east edge of the Here’s an update on the museum’s almost $8000.” large equipment deaccession. The In 2009, the Friends spent $65,000 museum and extends to the southeast. A small portion of it reaches the following pieces were not purchased on restoration activities. The 2010 and are still available. budget is anticipated to be $58,000. museum’s main line. It will be rented out for farming. CB&Q/MARC E8 #66 The budget includes repairs to the roof B&O Skydome #5551 and south end of the machine shop, the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum Frisco business car #200 roof over the shop boilers, continued Bellevue, OH C&EI (ex-Lehigh Valley) coach #405 repairs to the sand house, work on the September 26 saw a new event, Great Northern tender roof of the coal bunker, additional “Museum Nights”. About a dozen improvements to the paint shop and photographers attended and paid an Nevada State Railroad Museum further restoration of the Robertsdale entry fee to access over 35 museum Carson City, NV old post office. scenes lit by floodlights. Costumed The museum has acquired Western Pacific steel bay window caboose #657. Halton County Radial Railway volunteers portrayed passengers, train Milton, ON crew, station agents, RPO clerks, hobos New York Museum of The museum has completed a rehab and USO volunteers serving troop train Transportation of Toronto PCC rail grinding power car soldiers. A professional photographer West Henrietta, NY #W-30 (Pullman 1946). The car was was on hand to advise on camera Due to the partial electrification of built for Cleveland and sold to Toronto settings and oversee lighting. Hobo the demonstration railroad that connects Transit Commission in 1952 as #4631. stew and sandwiches were served. The NYMT with Rochester & Genesee It was retired from passenger service in event ran from 6:30 to 11:30 PM. A Valley Railroad Museum, the ride

Almost completed V&T McKeen car #22 at Nevada State Railroad Museum. Photo courtesy Nevada State Railroad Museum.

17 boxcar has been acquired from BA&P successor Rarus Railway. The car is notable for its fish belly underframe and Fox trucks. Pueblo Railway Museum Pueblo, CO The museum has acquired an experimental 150 mph tracked air- cushion Aerotrain (Rohr 1970) from the City of Pueblo. Previously it had been displayed at the Weisbrod Aircraft Museum. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum Chattanooga, TN TVRM had been doing business with the Lookout Sheet Metal for 40 years when it learned the company was going out of business. Rather than lose a Aurora, Elgin & Fox River interurban #304 has returned to its never-abandoned valued supplier, the museum acquired home rails, now the demonstration railway of the Fox River Trolley Museum. The the company’s equipment and moved it into the museum’s East Chattanooga car was part of the Lake Shore Electric collection that was dispersed last fall. warehouse. With the deal came 35-year Photo courtesy of Forrest Johnson. employee Steve Griffith. He’ll continue to work on TVRM projects, between the two has been upgraded. with a $40,000 grant from 4Culture’s supplemented by outside job work. Maintenance of way motor cars have Heritage Capital Projects program. The been replaced by electric interurbans for program distributes revenues from a West Coast Railway Museum half the trip, then passengers transfer to King County lodging tax. The Train Squamish, BC a diesel-powered train. As a result of Shed site work is complete and building The West Coast Model Railroaders this upgrade, attendance for 2009 is up erection is about to start. make their home in the Heritage Park’s 13 percent year to date, a change from Patricia Anne Model Railway Car. several years of slow decline. Orange Empire Railway Museum Recently they have undertaken the The Rochester & Genesee Valley Perris, CA restoration of BC Rail crane idler car Railroad Museum has donated the body Two major bequests have been #6502. As former boxcar, half of its of Rochester, Lockport & Buffalo wood received--$25,000 from the Robert body was cut down to accommodate the interurban #206 (Niles 1908). The body Petersen estate will go toward the 1600- big hook’s boom. The car had plenty of had occupied the site of a new siding foot extension of track to the new Perris rust and rot. The wood deck is being and had to be moved or scrapped. Metrolink depot. A $32,900 bequest replaced, and the underframe is being from the Barbara Sibert estate will help needle gunned prior to repainting. Niles Canyon Railway fund a new library-archive building. Sunol, CA A wood Butte, Anaconda & Pacific TRAINS magazine’s 2009 Preservation Award of $10,000 has gone to Niles Canyon to help fund the restoration of Clover Valley Lumber 2-6-6-2T #4 (Baldwin 1924). Pickering Lumber #1 (Heisler 1913) is going to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway in Tillamook. Sierra Railway 2-6-2 #30 (Baldwin 1922) is also traveling to Tillamook. After receiving a new boiler, it will return to Niles Canyon. Northern Ohio Railway Museum Chippewa Lake, OH The sale of Lake Shore Electric’s collection triggered another exchange. Northern Ohio has purchased Cleveland trailer #2318 (Kuhlman 1918) from Seashore Trolley Museum. When similar trailer #2365 went from LSE to Seashore, where it will accompany recently restored Cleveland #1227, #2318 became surplus.

Northwest Railway Museum Butte, Anaconda & Pacific boxcar #22 arrives at Orange Empire. Note the rare Snoqualmie, WA The Train Shed project has moved Fox trucks and fish belly underframe. Hutchinson & Northern steeplecab #1 closer to its $4 million fund raising goal waits to haul it away. John Smatlak photo. 18 Society will own UP trackage into space in the Union Pacific’s Brooklyn MORE NEW RAILROAD Boulder donated by Regional Transit roundhouse by 2012. The locomotives MUSEUMS? District. The Society formed in 1997 to include: preserve three narrow gauge freight Southern Pacific 4-8-4 #4449 (Lima By Aaron Isaacs cars. 1941), -Alco Historical & Technical Society Spokane, Portland & Seattle 4-8-4 Do we need more railway museums? is trying to create an Alco museum in #700 (Baldwin 1938), The times would seem to say no, what Building 70 of the Schenectady factory Oregon Railway & Navigation 2-8-2 with the recent demise of Lake Shore complex (700 feet long). It’s a new #197 (Baldwin 1905), Electric and the Steam Museum in Ohio, organization formed in 2009. The Foundation recently received a Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s loss -Western New York Railway $1 million loan from the City of of half its staff and Nevada Railroad Historical Society, founded in 1980, is Portland to acquire a three-acre site for Museum’s staff downsizing. It is true trying to acquire a former industrial a turntable, a 19,000-to-20,000-square- that many established museums are building as a museum site. foot maintenance building and an growing, or at least improving their -Mid-Continent Railway Museum is interpretive facility. The building is physical plants. But completely new considering expansion to a line between projecyed to cost $3.5 million. museums? Does that make sense? Sauk City and Mazomanie, WI, -The City of Havana, Cuba has Despite these skeptical questions, and including a new museum in Sauk City. acquired over 40 of the country’s sugar against all the odds, there are several new -Espanola (New Mexico) Railroad industry steam locomotives and is railway museums being born. The Museum has unveiled a plans costing displaying them at an outdoor museum following list includes only those that up to $782,000. It hopes to get an next to Havana’s Central Train Station. appeared in the most recent month of engine from the Cumbres & Toltec. -The Picayune, Mississippi depot news postings on RyPN.org, plus the -The Oregon Rail Heritage museum opened December 4. It was latest issue of Railpace magazine. There Foundation is a joint effort by seven conceived by the Pearl River Valley are undoubtedly others still to be organizations to find a home for the Railroad Association and has been in discovered. City of Portland’s three steam the works for about 20 years. -Boulder County Railway Historical locomotives, which must vacate leased

Members of the Washington, DC Chapter NRHS recreate a classic dining car scene aboard the chapter’s heavyweight Pullman Dover Harbor. Bill Hakkarinen photo courtesy of Washington, DC Chapter NRHS. 19 PRSRT. STD. U.S.POSTAGE Association of Railway Museums, Inc. PAID 1016 Rosser Street MINNEAPOLIS, MN Conyers, GA 30012 PERMIT NO. 1096

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West Coast Railway Association hosted the ARM 2010 Annual Conference at its Heritage Park (top). There have been major changes in the ten years since ARM last visited. New are the Squamish depot at lower left and the adjacent three-track yard. The roundhouse/convention center and turntable are under construction. (Bottom) Also new since the last visit, the Association leases the nearby former BC Rail shop. Photos courtesy West Coast Railway Association.