Re: New Mexico Lumber - Oregon Lumber Shay #7

Amen to that Jim!
My rough count is that there are at least 7 stock car bodies still extant, though only 3 owned by SVRR, with perhaps one more that has been given to the organization. A 7 car stock extra with a couple of restored SVRy box cars plus tank car 99 and one of the original cabooses would make a nice prototypical freight train. All that is needed to make this happen is $$$$ and more volunteer participation, both for operating crew and and directly with restoration efforts. Two things besides $$$ in this members opinion have hampered restoration efforts until recent years. One was adequate facilities to work in out of the weather in the off season. The problem has gradually been solved, but our shops remain works in progress. The second thing has been insufficient numbers of volunteers. Many times volunteers like myself who have arrived on site with the intention of spending a weekend on a project be it on the facilities or equipment have found themselves drafted to the operating crew.
The creation of sister 501-3c organization Western Railway Preservation Society has been a great boon to seeing restoration work move forward. Many of the active members of this organization are not qualified operating crew members so their time on site is able to be focused on their projects. While their focus is broader than SVRy I certainly hope that they will intersperse restoration of SVRy equipment between some of their other interests such as the Westside Lbr. equipment.