This thread really is another discussion on the core of the preservation problem - to preserve as an artifact, or to preserve the artifact in it's context, both location and operating.
Noblesville is another example in the very long chain of lessons of how to try as hard as you can and ultimately fail. They collected more than they could maintain, and made a variety of other mis-steps.
IRM has always skirted the edges of "we've got too much stuff", but through skill, luck and sweat is on a sound footing. But 75% of that collection you'll never seen on an average day, you have to know it's there.
The San Juan Extension (all the pieces) present an interesting challenge, ranging from dedicated historic preservation (CATS), to for-profit scenic Rwy (D&S), to fading historic elements on private property.
Collecting more pieces closer to their historic context (Can we say Como for a second?) is in the right direction. If it happens because someone drops a check on someone's desk, then so be it. Focus within the available resources is a necessity, but flexibility as opportunity happens is nearly as important.
223 doesn't belong in Utah, that we all agree on, and the current precarious status it's in makes it desirable to get it into a better state of affairs. That might be at the temporary expense of other stablization efforts though, therein lies the difference in viewpoints. Which is fine. But we all need to remember that if we don't keep our eyes on the long term horizon, we end up like any other defunct preservation organization (railroad or not)!
SRK
12bridge Wrote:
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> I do tend to agree with the yes, restore it...but
> maybe not just yet, and focus on making the
> grounds and experience to the every day (non
> railfan, big key word here) audience.
>
> I agree with the idea of more covered storage,
> which I believe John mentioned was happening in
> Chama until Covid delayed it.
>
> While I will never argue covered storage one bit,
> I do really hate the "stuff as much as we can into
> this tiny building" style so many places go after.
> I live 1000 miles away, yes, C&TS is a living
> museum, but I also want to see everything that the
> friends and RR has accomplished over the years, in
> more then just a shoehorned building setting with
> just enough room to walk between the cars.
> Some sort of indoor display that the restored
> equipment can be rotated through would be nice.
> I cant drop everything and fly out for an
> excursion, or photo freight, etc. I love MoW
> equipment, so I was indeed a bit bummed out when I
> visited in August and OB and OP were buried in the
> shed.
>
> Antonito defiantly had a tinge (not nearly as bad
> as many other places) of "junkyard" feel to it.
> Chama felt more historic to me. In this day an
> age, especially after the Noblesville fiasco last
> year, I really think every single museum and
> tourist train should be well on top of keeping the
> grounds SPOTLESS. It just takes one wrong set of
> eyes these days to spot something not kosher.