I've never been to that part of Oregon, but have often wondered how the volunteer group has managed to keep the very remote Sumpter Valley operation going for so long. Commuting to and from the site must be tiring and difficult. I live 100 miles from my nearly-done 4-6-0 project in Vermont, but would not be able to do it without the donation of use of a musty old camp by another museum volunteer. Thus, I'm able to work four days at the museum and go home for three.
Thus I'm wondering if the railroad had a cheap or free place for volunteers to stay, they would get more volunteers? Would there be an about-to-be-bulldozed mom and pop motel in Baker or nearby that could be acquired for cheap? Volunteer types really don't need many amenities. A hot shower, bug-free bed, toilet, refrigerator and microwave are pretty much all that's needed for survival. I presume there's no motel in Bates (Norman Bates, prop.), but see the state park does have RV and camp sites, assuming the Malheur Militia Morons don't take that over also. Personally, I don't want an RV and got my fill of tents with Uncle Sam.
There are problems with 501c3 status, of course, if rooms are rented out to the public, but I'm sure there are ways of doing what needs to be done legally. Visitors have been staying in sawmill cabins at the Cass Scenic RR for years, though I don't know the legal ramifications of how it's done.
At my project, I've found train geeks to be virtually useless when it comes to restoration. Although there are many in the area, none have helped. Of the 15 or so people who have helped me, most have been "community" types, who wanted to try something different than soup kitchens or Habitat for Humanity. A couple were required to do local volunteer work because they received temporary public assistance. All have done very well. I've seen that when a museum gets operations going, most railfan volunteers want to "play train" rather than do restoration. And the unrestored equipment sits and rots.
I think the Sumpter Valley might attract more volunteers if they had an inexpensive place to stay and if volunteers were sought from a wider audience of other civic and preservation-minded people.
Bob Yarger
