I've avoided posting on the #6 discussion as I am too close to what happened, but this thread has gone on too long. Jack Campbell, Lauren Giebler, Mike Rowe, and Fred Oster have explained why 6 was cannablized. Bob Richardson, myself and two other guys unloaded 6 from a flatbed in 1984. When the Museum purchased the Shank collection the three cars at Vance Junction were part of the deal. The CRRM had to accept these cars or the deal was off. The cars were an early standard gauge D&RG boxcar, narrow gauge coach 254, and the 6.
The coach now resides at Monte Vista as part of the Don Shank roster. The CRRM is dealing with a Colorado RR museum for a donation of the boxcar. The museums name will be witheld until final arrangements are made. 6 was in terrible shape. Crawling under the car while supported by 2 big fork lifts Bob Richardson (with me looking over his shoulder) determined the car was beyond saving. There were some salvagable sills and four corner posts. Now, do you put the fact that the CRRM has a car for the asking out on every forum out there? The CRRM would not be able to handle the response from the majority of the people that did not know the condition of the car, or had the resources to save it. How many of these calls would be serious? Instead several responsible people were contacted privately and asked if they wanted the car. Jason was the only one to express interest. The individual that started this thread about 6, is totally unqualified to evaluate the condition, cost to restore or replicate car 6. He has no clue to the logistics involved in restoring a car. He is using his heart and not his head. Passion is admirable, but it has to be tempered with reality.
Bill Gould
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2012 11:14AM by HighCommander.