$1.5 Billion Dollars: What would you restore?

If the prize was large enough, I think I'd like to see the Buffalo, NY train station restored.  Here is a Wikipedia page on it.  Buffalo Central Terminal

Here is another link

I was never there when it was actually a train station. I did get to see it when the current owner was trying to turn it into a banquet hall / expo center (early 1980's). That was before the next owner stripped out anything he could sell and basically vandalized his own building. It was a neat place.

I don't think there would be enough money.

One train thing I would do is do establish a fund that would finance the operation of the SLSF 1522.  Most of the money needed for the work the FRA requires already exists, but the indifference of the Been Nuthin' Since Frisco and skyrocketing insurance rates prevented the StLSTA from doing the work.  The fund would allow a rejuvenated group to run excursions on $10 tickets.

I would also spend $$$ to cosmetically rehabilitate her sister, 1501.

C W Burfle posted:

If the prize was large enough, I think I'd like to see the Buffalo, NY train station restored.  Here is a Wikipedia page on it.  Buffalo Central Terminal.

C.W., I remember that the New York Central System Historical Society did at least one nice article a few years ago on the building. It is a shame that it has deteriorated over the years. I think I remember seeing plywood on some of its windows. In its day, it was a beautiful and rather dominant art deco structure. 

Tom 

I would give it all to the U S Government so they can run the goverment for an additionsl 2 1/2 hours.

Larry

After all the family matters. I would donate 5 million to get 611,1218,2156 in there new building. I would donate 2.5 million to 1361 and steam town each. I would more than likely have two or so passenger cars restored for excursions and keep at steam town. I would also be buying NS stock to help with the merger. 

1) My hair.

2) The famous 'Big Loop' of the P.S. & N. Railroad along with the Kinzua Bridge of the K. & K. Railroad, connected as a tourist railroad in northern PA.

Dave

Well no one won the top prize last night! Now the jackpot has grown to 1.3 Billion dollars!!!

Even after taxes you couldn't spend it all just do to interest income alone! 

What a problem to have!

Most definitely following all of my charitable contributions as noted in my original post to help people first and foremost.

Then do the following:

1. Make sure the funds keep growing so that it would help feed the charities.

2. Set-up smaller trust funds for many organizations that help preserve historic trains and buildings in this country.

3. Acquire Lionel and set--up a board that would help run/produce equipment you folks would like and make sure the component and electronic parts would be available for years to come along with production here in the USA.

4. Work with 3rd rail to produce the finniest  brass equipment possible all made in the USA.

5. Set up the grandest layout ever in O gauge (similar to the one in Germany) here in the USA and make it the most exciting place to visit for kids of all ages! 

6. Just plain have as much fun as possible!

I'd establish a sizable charitable trust to provide for long-term giving to worthy charities and specify that 20% of annual gifts go to railroad non-profit organizations.

gateway humpyard in Struthers Ohio. 

My bank account. I would donate to various restoration projects but I have other plans with my 1.5 billion dollars. 

I have changed my mind. I would create a foundation to promote the hobby, then start a company to take the place of Marx and the like, low end equipment of high quality

Give $ to the U.S. Gummit?  They have trillions more and don't know how to manage funding for a lemonade stand!

I would buy up a right-of-way from my house to Anthony's Pizzeria uptown, lay down track, build an engine shed, and take a locomotive to get my pizzas and chicken parm sandwiches.

I'd probably get an old ALCO switcher to run ... one that belches lots of black smoke .... just to annoy my Prius-driving neighbor.

(I'd also cut a fat check to a children's medical research hospital)

Me,  I just want to restore the cars in my driveway to something newer.

I've got one.  I've purchase MTH and make DCS an open source!  How's that.

 57 Corvette or Third. Maybe a 63 split window vette

Expensive beer & cheap women   j/k

LLKJR posted:

I would give it all to the U S Government so they can run the goverment for an additionsl 2 1/2 hours.

 

Larry

They can't manage the money they have, why give yours away? Haha, realize you are joking!

1.3 Billion is a drop in the bucket the way our government wastes money....sad really....

I'd like to take a couple hundred million for real trains... half to set up a trust fund for the stuff, and focus on the end of steam in the northeast. The current work of the PRR T1 and the B&M P4a come to mind, but also look at seeing if sufficient combinations could be done to further some other lost locomotives - a NYC Hudson and an Erie Berk come to mind quickly. Getting a GG1 up and running would be another focus.

I'd probably look at a career change to work on getting these projects up and running :-) It would be nice to work on something one loves full time...

I'd buy the St. Louis Rams - to keep them out of LA!

The NYC electric motors in the woods that I think are going to the Museum in Danbury CT would be a good start. They need the work. 

As far as fun projects. I would like to work with the Adirondack Scenic RR group to help restore the track on the former NYC Adirondack Div. Tupper Lake to Utica. 

Once that was done I would like to purchase some adjacent land and lay a spur and engine house /shed.  For my projects. 

I am interested in the idea of new replicas of long gone antiques. I would like to commission Kloke (sp?) Locomotive Works to make a nice small Mohawk and Malone 4-4-0 or 2-6-0. Even a NY City Elevated 0-4-4T might be fun.  I would like to work out some deal with ASRR to run the engine on their trains. Getting more tourists into the area and the attendant jobs to support them is the goal .

At the very least I would love to finish my own replica 19th century Logging caboose.   

colorado hirailer posted:

Give $ to the U.S. Gummit?  They have trillions more and don't know how to manage funding for a lemonade stand!

They would find something harmful in the lemonade!

you have a better chance finding the winning ticket on the street during a snowstorm than playing!

Buy the Island of Sodor where they have some really useful engines.   Well thinking about if I am going to fantasie also acquired the UP Steam program and move it there too. 

Dreams in the mirror are not as large as they appear.

Here you go.

When I choose to retire I'll have a pension that pays 48% of my final year salary...so I started investment in a 403b at age 23 and continue to do so at $800 Month currently. I spend about $10 a month on lotteries...for entertainment purposes only and support of education. The best odds are the NYSE and NASDAQ

Restore nuthin! I would commission new continuations of all N&W Class steamers. For starters, Class K2a Cab#138. It's a shame that none survived.....

As for cars, I already have access to enough cash to get totally stupid restoring my father's El Camino.

nickaix posted:

I'd buy the St. Louis Rams - to keep them out of LA!

Well, there are at least two Rams fans here. I'm the designated Central Virginia fan; my brother is the Blue Ridge fan.

I would do the same as Superwarp1 (Gary) and I would commission a NYC Hudson from scratch. 

$1.3 Billion Dollars: What would you restore? 

Sanity - to myself and others 

Of course it's really about a quarter of the final figure once you take the cash and Uncle Sam and your state rifle your pockets.

One  option would be partner up with JJJ and see what he can't get done with Age of Steam round house.  What would happen if the AOS trust was grown by a lot.  Perhaps new shop positions to train new young guns in the art.  The number of employees at AOS is likely a function of the size of the trust.  The number of locomotives restored per year is directly tied to the  number of qualified employees.  

With $300m or so in hand, you can name a dozen locomotives to restore, but there likely isn't enough qualified workers out there to do it in a reasonable amount of time. 

Bob

Finish PRR 5550, T1......complete restoration of U.P. 18 at IRM.  Initiate a scratch built U.P. Veranda Turbine. Left overs to fund NYCS J1e Hudson build, and PRR J1 Texas fund.   Sounds like I need to start my own manufacturing outfit to get these puppies off the ground !

HMM useful things like debt free for everyone in my family then complete remodel of the house I currently live in. college funds for my kids and grand daughters. I usually help a lot of folks . so maybe pick one person deserving of help and set them up very well.  take all the kids to Disney. and at that point who knows.  Build a really good layout with as big of curves as I can get into the 60x40 building that would be constructed out back in the back yard LOL that should make for a really nice layout. I doubt I would change much I'm very simple never wanted big expensive things.

Buy and restore a few steam locomotives fix them up.But first I would have the locomotive check out.To see is it worth the bother.If all goes well I would have them over at spencer shops.You know with a round house it would be cool to have a a operating steam locomotives

Gilly@N&W posted:

Restore nuthin! I would commission new continuations of all N&W Class steamers. For starters, Class K2a Cab#138. It's a shame that none survived.....

As for cars, I already have access to enough cash to get totally stupid restoring my father's El Camino.

 

nickaix posted:

I'd buy the St. Louis Rams - to keep them out of LA!

Well, there are at least two Rams fans here. I'm the designated Central Virginia fan; my brother is the Blue Ridge fan.

The Rams at first moved from LA to ST LOUIS?

Restore sanity and common sense, two rare items these days!

How much is a ticket????    

I was working a job a few weeks ago, and the ever evolving: "clean out the truck" discussion came-up.  One of the better plumbers was a lottery player, apparently, most, if not all of the stubs/tickets were in the truck.  One of the helpers cleaned the truck, one day, of all the lottery stubs.  Problemmmmmm!!!.  Apparently if you win, (ever), all the losing tickets are a deduction????    You gotta love the world of expendable income. IMO.   

I would freely give to charity, build a manufacturing operation, base it here and use it to employ 100% American labor. Bring back the days when corporate America needed and used domestic labor to make their products. It would be my part to help restore the middle class.  My dad was a factory worker and on his salary was able to buy a home, drive a nice car, send me to college, buy me a few trains and live a respectable life with mom. You can't do that today as all these types of jobs are gone.

Mike CT posted:

How much is a ticket????    

 Apparently if you win, (ever), all the losing tickets are a deduction????

 

Somewhat...but not in the way you may think.  Losing tickets are not a direct write off or offset to the gambling income.....and they get reported as an itemized deduction, subject to various limitations depending on each individual taxpayer's circumstances.

Then again, if you won this jackpot, would you really care?  

My Mon & Dad always taught me, Money is like horse crap an if you keep it in one pile it will not do anything and for the best results one  should spread it around.

Now with this I( would give every forum member a $500.00 dollar Lionel gift certificate.