I hope I have the following details correct - please correct me if I'm wrong:
The Golden Spike Chapter (GSRLHS) of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society (R&LHS), a charter member of the Utah State Railway Museum Authority (USRMA), has invested 25+ years and tens of thousands of dollars in the restoration of D&RGW 223 (a Grant-built Class 60/C-16). Roughly a year ago, the city of Ogden locked the group out of the restoration facility due to questions of ownership of the locomotive.
Now, dsespite the full cooperation of the GSRLHS, 2 separate groups want to take 223 from the group and put it on static display The Utah State Division of History and Arts, which claims ownership #223, wants to put it in a (as yet unbuilt?) new Utah State History Museum. The other group, the City of Ogden, where the 223 currently resides, is asking the state to donate the locomotive to them instead to be displayed in the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden.
Neither proposal would see the restoration of 223 continue to eventual operation.
The C&TSRR, with the help and support of the GSRLHS, presented a offer to complete the restoration (I assume in exchange for a long term lease similar to the deal the C&TSRR has with the City of Colorado Springs). Along with the GSRLHS, the proposal also had the full support of the R&LHS. At this point, it's the only chance #223 has of operating again. Many T-12s worked with C-16s back in the day, and the GSRLHS has shown that #223 is worthy of being operational again. And the C&TSRR has proven their ability to restore an 1880's locomotive, on time and on budget.
So, please, if you live in Utah, write the Utah State Division of History and Arts and (kindly but forcefully) demand that this locomotive be made operational rather then stuffed and mounted in a museum. Living history, as seen on the C&TSRR, is so much interesting and informative then a static display in a museum.
Greg Coit
Bayfield, CO
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2019 02:52PM by gregcoit.
