That fellow takes nice pictures. It was enjoyable meeting Russ and sharing a couple of days with him. We have an interesting time in Silverton despite some folks writing us off as a tourist trap, and one constant thread through all my years here has been the railroad, with all of its past history but as importantly the day-to-day activities of people at work, doing their jobs, and writing new pages of history in the process. We tend to take on big projects and somehow we find the energy, time, and money to pull off some pretty neat things, like preserving our history and all that goes with it. It is encouraging when "fellows" like Russ take the time to see what's beneath the surface and join in with some of our antics.
Don't fret the details, we are paying attention to things like door trim, how to pour concrete when the night-time temperatures are below 20F, and all the rest. The 315 group brings in a lot of talent and energy, and despite their average age being up there, they have accomplished miracles with their efforts. In an editorial entitled "A future inextricably linked to the past," this week's Silverton Standard noted that "The long-term potential of this project (315 and the engine house) is hard to under-estimate." Idle dreams take shape here and what we've done with the local museum, historic preservation, and town improvements are substantial.
The large building is Brian Fullmer's shop for heavy equipment including a diesel shop. It is heated with a new coal-fired heating system. It is about 10 years old at this point and I think it sits about where the Budweiser beer depot once stood. The only picture I've seen of the Budweiser building was one Dave Grandt posted a while back.
