Re: Looting the local stuff

In my very first post on this subject, I commented that the northern migration of the 40 and 44 was a net good. Clearly the greater good in served by the preservation of some of this stuff, regardless of where it ends up.
What I oppose is looking at El Salvador and Guatemala as a supermarket of cheap rail stuff there for the taking for whatever reason. I'd like to see at least some recognition that there are local preservation efforts that deserve some respect. This is particularly true in Guatemala which now has a wonderful museum and is actively preserving equipment. And at least in Sonsonnate the No. 8 was stuffed and mounted last time I looked.....which is at least as good as what has happened to 111 in Colorado. And probably better than the fate of the Cuscatlan, which was the only ex-IRCA business car in El Salvador.
There IS a lot of stuff that should migrate if it is to be preserved. High on my list are some little Alco steamers that may still be in the deadline behind the Sonsonnate roundhouse that ought to go back to Oahu. There is also a lot of duplicate stuff that represents good candidates for fund raising and migration....the Niagraras in Mexico were a good example, there were plenty to share.