I got a temporary website up for my “Save the F40PH” project (still needs work) http://ham549.googlepages.com/home and I have put together a check list of things that need to be done. First and foremost I need to become a non-profit organization as I don’t expect people to just send me money. As F40PHR231 said to me on another web fourm “By having a federally recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) status, donors are assured that the money they contribute isn’t going into my wallet, but rather to the preservation project without questions.” But to get back to my point here is the checklist I have made.
-Find an official home for the F40PH.
-Become a non-profit or get a non-profit group to back me.
-Start an account for raising money. (needs to complete step above before doing this)
-Get a more official web page.
Getting a home for the F40PH at the trolley museum is seeming like an no go but as that door closes another one opens but again I can’t say anything officially yet . The getting a non-profit to back me seems to be very difficult as they always are to wrapped up in there own projects to help out Although this new place I found seems loaded with F40PH fans and hopefully some are on the board of directors. The web page also needs to get done because a Google web page doesn’t scream “Hey, I’m serious about what I am doing.”
This is a good cause as the EMD F40 does have a very significant history in North American passenger railroading.
Just my opinion, but one factor that “may” slow things down is that right now there are still a number of powered F40s in existence that are running in service. So there’s no major panic yet that the F40 is in danger of becoming extinct. Grand Canyon and Alasaka RR are examples of current F40 owners.
However, it’s wise to stay on top of this. Years back there were calls for preserving the E7, and of course all but one were eventually scrapped.
Ham, have you joined the National Railway Historical Society?
There’s likely chapters in your state. I was a member back in the 80s and was part of the group that sponsered Operation Life Saver here in Florida, which resulted in a well publicized vist from the Chessie 614. The NRHS is nationally recognized and does have “some” influence with the railroad industry along the lines of preserving equipment. Talk with a chapter’s leaders and get their advice.
Just saw the NC Transportation Museum’s. (Saturday before Labor Day) Looks rough. Rust coming through paint in several locations. It definitely does not get the love the Steam, E, and F units get. Looks like it spends all its time outside.
Also, did you ask the museum reps what the plans were for its restoration. Happens often that transportation related museums receive vehicles needing restoration but because funds are usually limited it could be months or even a few years before significant progress is made.
That’s a good info list. The color coding for the status of the units is a good touch.
Do you know if #258 is actually running?
Is there any truth to the specualtion that the Tennessee Central Valley museum acquired the F40 after they decided to get rid of the 3 beautiful E-units that had, unfortunately, become maintenance headaches due to the twin prime movers per E unit?
The Save the F40PH project is now accepting donations through PayPal. You can donate by clicking on “Donate” on the temporary website http://ham549.googlepages.com/howtohelp On that note I am looking to open a more permanent and professional website using Train Web. If anybodey wants to get involved in this they can e-mail me or join the Face Book group “Save the F40PH” If this project falls through all money raised will go to the NRHS. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments.
The unit at the North Carolina Transportation Museum is a low priority. If it is ever restored it will be comestic restoration only. The engine is siezed up.
Hopefully the museum officials would reconsider the future restoration status to fully powered as there are still EMD 645 series components available on the market, although likely at heart thumping prices.
My understanding is that the exhaust were left uncovered when Amtrak had it in storage. Water got into the cylinders and have rusted things together. It would require a total engine rebuild.
OUCH! That’s an expensive problem. So typical of Amtrak. A friend of mine that worked for Amtrak told me that so often maintenance was deferred on the F40s back when they were in service before the Genesis unit arrived.
It’s a very expensive problem. According to the head diesel mechanic at the museum it will never be operational again unless someone donates a LARGE sum of money specifically for that purpose. There are plans for a cosmetic restoration though, which it desparately needs. The paint is very bad and the cab interior doesn’t look much better.
Get some stuff about Metra’s F40PHs’. I dont think there being scrapped just yet but I have heard rumors that they are getting the new Metra (MP36’s) Paint scheme.
Hang tough, Ham! Rescuing, preserving and restoring ANY piece of railroad history is a daunting task. 'Way back in 1981, I had the idea of rescuing and cosmetically restoring the SP steam locomotive on display in our town – it had been allowed to deteriorate badly and another similar engine had recently been cut up because it looked almost as bad as the one I was concerned about! Got a few friends together and, very long story made short, we ended up restoring it to operating condition and leased it to ourselves for service on a shortline we started. A few suggestions to help you on the journey you’ll alternately curse and kiss…
Document, document, document! Get every piece of historical info and paper (copies or originals) you can lay your mitts on. Take pictures. Take LOTS of pictures. We ended up getting a local high school photography student to do nothing but shoot every day we were working on the engine and everything we did. Those pix come in handy for your newsletter (see below), for public outreach efforts, and displays.
A non-profit public education corporation is one of the best things you can invest your time putting together. Your best bet is to form your own for a variety of legal and interpersonal issues which will become abundantly clear later on. Check with the local attorney and bank in town. Get people interested in what you’re doing and make them WANT to help put together your non-profit. The library should be a good source for how to form your own non-profit organization. Ooops – my age is showing. Yeah – you can check the Internet, too, but live persons in your home town is what you want to start getting involved. Heck – we never had much money during our entire restoration project, but we always managed to get a local merchant or somebody with a few bucks to get excited about what we were doing and we got it done. In the end, over the 12-year restoration
I have made up a new website http://www.trainweb.com/f40ph and have typed up a flier to pass out at rail fan meetings and other railroad events.
Here is how the flier I typed up reads:
"The EMD F40PH locomotive played a huge part in American railroad history and set the standard for passenger locomotive. But now they are becoming fewer and fewer as more fall to scrappers. It is the gole of the Save the F40PH project to preserve these historic locomotives for future generations to enjoy. In order for this project to become successful it needs people like you to help out and join. Together we can help raise awareness of this cause, start a 501(c)3, and raise funds to rescue these locomotives. Although a few have already been saved none of them are located here in New England. "
You don’t have to donate money to help, you could for example help out with the website and fliers (my spelling and grammar skills are extremely weak if you couldn’t tell) there are many other ways you could help with this project because as I have come to realize I cannot do this alone.
To become a 501(c)(3)
“of the IRC. A not-for-profit (i.e., nonprofit) organization must be organized and operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes.
organized—A 501(c)(3) organization must be organized as a corporation, trust, or unincorporated association. An organization’s organizing documents”
You can read all this and more at
-http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4220.pdf
I would have to also first do a SS-4 fourm (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fss4.pdf) HOW ARE YOU SUPOST TO PUT DOWN AN EIN NUMBER IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER WHEN YOU ARE APPLYING FOR ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE! then after that I would need to do a Form 1023 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf) Maybe I should be trying to rase money for a tax attorney before I start raseing money for a F40PH . The only other way is this “As an alternative to applying for exemption, an organization may obtain many of the benefits of 501(c)(3) status by affiliating with an existing charity that acts as its agent. It is important to note that the existing charity must be given full control and authority over the program.” but no orginazation around Masschutes seems to want or be able to help.
. The getting a non-profit to back me seems to be very difficult as they always are to wrapped up in there own projects to help out 
Although this new place I found seems loaded with F40PH fans and hopefully some are on the board of directors. The web page also needs to get done because a Google web page doesn’t scream “Hey, I’m serious about what I am doing.”