Join the discussion on the following article:
Polson Lumber 2-6-2 returns home for restoration in Washington
It’s always good to see another steam engine returned to service, but if this museum plans on staying at it’s present location, which is not on live rail and is located in a residential area mostly, it’s a waste of money. Just do a cosmetic restoration and show like it was. The likelihood of getting any permits to build any new track are between slim and none. I understand about the museum being on donated ground and as such money is always an issue but there comes a time it will need to face reality. The nearest live rail is only 600’ as the crow flies but that’s across a river. The next live rail is 3000LF along the same river but the NIMBYs and environmentalist would fight it tooth and nail.
I have sympathy for the Polson Museum and the Grays Harbor community. I was once a logger in the area. After I moved away a steam locomotive was brought in to promote the Polson Museum and a tourist train. The museum survived but the steam train went back to Chehalis… Two local display locomotives were moved away, and it is good that #45 came back. Two 70 ton Mikados from Polson and a tank mallet from Rayonier will be steaming in the next year. At least six other Rayonier engines are preserved, varying from Willamette #2 steaming to Mallet #38 rusting in scattered pieces.