michael Wrote:
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> I hope they dont fully restore this engine. For me
> there's a lot more important things than restoring
> a show pony.
>
> The list:
> 1. Improving the grounds at Antonito which include
> cosmetically restoring 494 and 495.
> 2. Building covered storage for newly restored
> cars
> 3. Building a indoor museum to display and explain
> some of the equipment beautifully restored by
> Friends. Right now there is no real exhibits on
> the C&TSRR. While the C&TSRR has done a phenomenal
> job with the Friends on keeping the line
> historically accurate, there's no actual museum.
> Is the point of restoring a pile drive just for
> foamers to enjoy and to be hidden from guest
> seeking to learn some history?
> 4. A bigger shop for projects and to house the
> locomotives in winter.
> 5. Restoring a K-36 or K-37 to have an additional,
> useful locomotive in the fleet.
>
> As usual, IMO, this is a discussion board. I
> supported the 168 project and I've ridden twice
> this year.
After the pile driver was restored it was operated at the CRRM. It was not displayed just for foamers but for the general public that visited the Museum. This pile driver demonstration was advertised in advance, not just to foamers. Locomotive 346 was used to move the pile driver around the Museum and was connected to the pile driver to provide steam power. A good crowd watched the 2 day demonstration and marveled at the operation as well as learning something. Museum volunteers also helped operate this historic piece of equipment. I'm sorry you missed this pile driver pounding in 20 foot telephone poles powered the way it was intended to. That was a history lesson. The demonstration was at a museum, the Cumbres and Toltec is a living museum as well as an operating railroad. You said there is no real exhibits at the C&TS. The C&TS in it's entirety is an exhibit.
High Commander
