Re: LEASE THE 315 TO THE D&S

Quote
Fritz
Had this group of people not taken an interest in the 315 ten or so years ago, it would still be sitting in Santa Rita Park in Durango rotting and rusting away. The City of Durango could care less, the D&S under 3 different ownerships was not interested so it is rather unknowing and uncaring to lay this kind of criticism on volunteers.

Kevin,

I hope you realize that the #315 happened because Fred and some other Durango-area model railroaders decided that the gaudy-looking, stuffed and mounted #315 really needed a good D&RGW paint job. The project sort of evolved and, well, they also managed to:

(1) Built a covered pavilion in the park
(2) Published an incredible 515 page-long book about the restoration
(3) Acquired a replacement locomotive (replica) to take #315's place in the park, thereby ensuring that #315 would never have to go back into the park
(4) Are actively restoring the replica
(5) Arranged for a permanent home for #315 that is secured and covered
(6) Did some restoration work on that permanent home, itself an important historical landmark (the SN enginehouse)
(7) Built a rail connection from the permanent home to the D&SNG mainline
(8) Acquired rolling stock for #315 to pull
(9) Are actively restoring that rolling stock

Along the way, they also restored a steam locomotive...

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Chris Webster