"The BCRHS board put the idea to all of the people who have volunteered on #30/74 over the years, and their responses can be seen on the link Chris Weaver posted above."
Jason, you must have meant all those who have worked on #30/74 since you have been involved as the BCRHS. Indeed, the three responses from those you worked with on this project are positive in nature, and as Adam(?) states, "if the goal is to run, then this is THE chance".
In the years in which I was involved with the care and preservation of the train in the 1980's I would wager that both my time and personal financial investment would at least rival your own. My goal, and the goal of the dozens of others who also volunteered their time and money to the project was to maintain the display for the City and the people of Boulder. Operation was not a realistic goal at the time.
While I support the ultimate goal of complete restoration if possible, my primary interest would be to see the equipment restored to where it is at least complete, if non operable.
No one understands better than I do how our limited but focused plan of painting, patching and applying band-aids where we could to stave off the ravages of time and vandalism had run its course. Huge financial resources are needed to just restore the train to the point where it could exist in the future as a "stuffed and mounted" display in Central Park. You and your group are to be commended for the thankless work you have done to date, and the work you have planned for the future. One day your work and contributions will fade and you won't mind any more than we did, glory is not a reward for this kind of work.
I must say with respect to the current issue at hand, that I have no confidence in the City of Boulder's eventual acceptance of an operating steam locomotive within it's City Limits. Why, the very notion, as I have stated here before, that anyone would be allowed to approach a live steam engine in today's Boulder without wearing a complete and full Biohazard suit is to deny current reality. And this doesn't even begin to address the inevitable arguements of how many abortions could be funded or starving childred fed or teachers added to educate the minds of our increasingly addled youth or how many prarie dogs relocated and counseled with $250,000. My God, man. Where are your priorities? And besides that, what of the restoration of the Golden Buffalo football program to National dominance?
But I'm not all doom and gloom. I actually have the strategy for the "solution". The final answer to which there can be no retort from even the most fervent of Boulder's opposition.
It's for the children, you see. That's why the train needs to be restored. It's for the children. The answer, as the song says, "Is Blowin' in the Wind". Children love the smell of coal smoke. Even if it has to be filtered through a gas mask. And a live steam engine is like nothing else, even if it has to be viewed through protective goggles.
Good luck Jason, and the rest of y'all. You're going to need it, and if the CHS wants to throw money at #30/74, why stand in the way?
Mike Trent (#74's chief caretaker 1980-1988)
