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Group wants to bring Milwaukee Road steam locomotive back to Milwaukee
This is nuts. Nuts on many differnt levels. The fund rasising effort would be of greater value for the almost identical locomotive (261) that is alive and restored?
Wow. That would be a great attraction to have in the Milwaukee Roads home grounds. To bad for these “lists” and “memberships” that hinder/slow enthusiasm for these historical projects. Check out the Cloquet Terminal Railroad Facebook sight to see a historical locomotive being restored without all the red tape & rules.
Wonder how long before she will discover Hunter’s “No steam” policy?
IRM needs to stand their ground on this one. Sounds to me if IRM lets this disaster happen, 265 will end up in pieces and eventually, in a scrap yard. Odds are excellent that Steam Marketing Group doesn’t have the money sitting around and won’t in the future. Otherwise they wouldn’t be begging for donations. 261 is up and running successfully with good management. Then there is UP’s steam program and all the other locomotives in excursion service. How many more locomotives can the excursion market support? My guess is none. The market is saturated, considering the costs involved just to break even.
TRAINS’ Preservation Award
NRHS Heritage Grant Program
Charity Search Engines’
Grocery Stores Fundraisers
Locomotive Fundraising:
TRAINS’ Preservation Award
NRHS Heritage Grant Program
Charity Search Engines – goodsearch.com & isearchigive.com
Grocery Stores Fundraisers
I may be just a bit biased as a volunteer with the 261 crew, but I can tell you that 261 doesn’t use the type of slick words that I see on the Steam Marketing Group web site. the 261 has become successful by its consistent safety record and performance, as well as the many relationships that have been built the hard way from the ground up. My question would be who will actually be the boots on the ground person that will oversee this anticipated restoration? This group might be successful but they need someone in charge that really knows how to build the relationships and get the job done within the many requirements of the FRA and with the blessing of the railroads on which they would operate, not put out slick web site text. I wish them luck. The Milwaukee Road S-3 is truly a beautiful locomotive!
Why not just contract out 261? As far as I understand it, it’s almost done with overhaul and it’s the same class and everything.
It wood be great to have another 484 running!
Nice to dream, but their website has absolutely NOTHING to do with preservation.
Geez, how did this get into Newswire. I smells fishy on so many levels. Yes, Nick Kallas does confirm that he’s been contacted by this fellow, but that a far cry from doing what they propose. I would wager that IRM would never release the 265 to this group unless they show them the money!
Go to their website and read it. It full of jargon and babble that it reads like something out of the dot-com 1990s.
Really!
I’d say build the museum to house Soo 1003, but of course that’s not a Milwaukee Road engine.
I can’t see IRM letting it go, though.
I love this another individual who has the vision to restore this great machine and make it a revenue generator once again and at the same time satisfy the palate of us train enthusiast!
I would recommend purchasing the 265 as is, clean up exterior only, and park it inside for people to look at and put stairs up so people can get inside the cab. Then contract the 261 to pull excursions since it is already restored and runs great. I am a locomotive engineer and have volunteered with the 261 guys. They are very professional and a great group to work with. Their locomotive has even been in the movies!
Hasn’t 265 donated some parts to 261?
Would love to see a double header with the 261 and 265 if she’s restored.
The website is all about event marketing. Does anyone in this organization have any rail preservation background, to truly understand the manhours, dollars, complexity and regulatory hurdles they’re getting into? The country is littered with failed preservation projects begun with the best of intentions.
It would be nice to have something in the city of Milwaukee for the Milwaukee Road. I can’t believe how big there shops where at one time. Its all pretty much gone now, except a small yard C.P runs.