Issues around 223... (or playing devils advocate)
1) Ownership, It appears that the group restoring the locomotive does not have the paperwork in place... ? (loan paperwork, ownership paperwork) Are they working on a hand shake deal and if so, who shook hands with who..
2) They have been working on the locomotive for how long? with what to show? Would a rational state/city official see light at the end of the tunnel?
3) A conversation with C&TS (not an agreement, or a draft agreement) might let it leave the state for operation elsewhere... what does the UtahOgden get? (think like a state official)
It appears that Ogden has issues with the depot, and the groups formerly managing it, and their lack of performance... So Ogden has taken over depot operations, and is making alternative plans. Those plans are not as railroad-centric as we might like... but we (railroad community) didn't deliver so we don't get a say...
Does every engine need to run?
So before we gather with torches and pitchforks, ask whether railroad preservation may have failed in this case....
This looks a lot like several failed railroad museums in Ohio and Indiana...
Randy
Randy Hees
Director, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, retired
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