Fire Up 611 Funding Behind Schedule

As I said before, if the UP can fund their steam program so can NS.

Different management with different goals. 

 

A steam program comes and goes at the pleasure of the management.

 

Rusty

What happens to our donation monies if they fall short? My $250 receipt proves I paid, but wonder if there is a money back kicker or the money goes into VMT general funds if project dies at birth.... I suppose I could read the fine print and discover the terms and conditions, but have not done so....

I wouldn't worry about this at this point, the dollars are coming in but not from the deeper pockets...yet.  The VMT is working on it and I am sure the larger dollars will come in...we are not seeing what's going on behind the scenes.   

 

Chris

Read the last sentences of the article in the link provided by SJC.

 

Chris

Should that goal ultimately prove out of reach, it will be up to the donors whether their money gets refunded or whether it’s used to create an endowment to support the engine, Ferguson said.

It is FAR too early to be forecasting that the project is doomed due to a lack of funding.

 

Large corporations often have a "wait and see" attitude about things like this. They typically wait to see who else has contributed before making a decision. All it will take is one major corporate donor to write a check and others will come on board.

 

This is exactly how the Freedom Train funding came about back in 1976. Nothing of any significance happened until Ross Rowland convinced Pepsico to come on board. Once they were in as the first official sponsor, many others followed. The same scenario, on a somewhat smaller scale, is in play here.

Actually Rich, it was General Motors Corporation that was the first big corporation to put up a million dollars. The "other" corporations (Pepsico, Prudential, a big oil company, and one or two others), who kept saying, "If he will support it, then we will also.", i.e. everyone was willing to be second or third, but only General Motors Corp. stepped up first.

 

However, General Motors had one main stipulation; the American Freedom Train HAD to be pulled by a steam locomotive, otherwise they would withdraw their support. The GM executives wanted the American Freedom Train to be for the people of America, and wanted no part of the nations media jumping on the fact that, the only reason GM funded the AFT was to get free advertising for their EMD/GM diesel locomotives! Thus the 4449 was selected, and rebuilt for AFT service, taking over the train in Chicago, in July of 1975.

GM was not as charitable as you make them sound. The AFT was supposed to carry a Ford Model T, because of GM it carried a Oldsmobile instead.

You know the old saying...money talks.

 

If Ford had stepped up the way GM did, there would have been a Model T on the train. I don't blame GM one bit for refusing to "support" a competitor.

 

Thanks for the correction, Jack. I should have re-watched your video! We talked about this very thing on-camera in your living room! Senior moment...

730 Donations?    That dosnt sound right, does it? Im gonna  send another buck, but this number seems extremely low.

I fail to see how THAT is/was related to the FUNDING process to begin the actual Freedom Train construction.

The connection is clear.  You said they didn't want GM diesels pulling the train because it was meant to be for all of the people and not a GM advertisement.  However they had to have a GM-heritage automobile instead of the Ford Model T which had the greatest impact making the car affordable for all people.  

Well personally, I'll take a Lima GS-4 over the Ford Model T anyway.

It's one thing to decide not to promote your own products on a display train like this, as GM did. However, it is quite something else to actively promote a competitors product in this display. I don't blame GM one bit for this decision. THEY put up the million dollars to help fund the train, Ford did not.

I agree and am happy the AFT ran I just get upset when they try to rewrite history.

Then again, Ford may not wanted anything on the AFT becuase GM was sponsering it....

 

And was not the AFT the reason for developing the "MU box" for controlling helper locomotives behind the ATF steamers?

Was it the AFT, or Preamble Express that was powered by a D&H Alco at first, but then GM got involved as a sponsor, and suddenly the UP E was repainted and used? I forget the connection between AFT and Preamble Express, other than the Lionel F3 that was supposed to have something to do with AFT.

 

The Preamble Express toured the country finding display locations for the AFT.  As you said it did start with the D&H ALCO and later received a repainted UP E #951 painted in bicentennial colors.  I don't remember how the UP unit came to be used.

I'm sure that Hot Water and Rich would know more about this, but wasn't there some correlation between the "American Railroads" train of the late 60's, the Preamble Empress, and then the AFT? I just read a recent article somewhere that I thought implied that the success of the late 60's train more or less guaranteed the future for the AFT project. Was that a matter of corporate sponsorship, or to show that class 1 RR's could coordinate and cooperate enough to pull off a train like this?

 

Sam

Are you thinking of the "original Freedom Train" that toured around the country with an Alco PA, back in 1947/1948?

There was a train touring the country in 1974 to test routes for the AFT.  That was the PREAMBLE EXPRESS.  The AFT people dead lease UP 951 and repainted it "Preamble Express".  Lionel did do one on an F3A body.....

 

Do not remember anything about the D&H unit.

 

EP 951 returned to UP and was repainted back to UP 951 and is in the collection with 844, and 3985.

Also, many companies/corperations may have nothing in their bugests for this project for FY 2013 or FY 2014.

 

BTW, NS has/had NO OBLIGATION to fund 611, any steam program or even paint the 20 Heritage Engines!

Hi folks.

 

Just a minor note, the D&H "Preamble Express" locomotive was actually a GE U23B numbered 2312. When the "Preamble Express" scheme was applied in 1974 the number was changed to 1776. The paint scheme was modified and '1776' served as "The Spirit of Freedom" Bicentennial unit for the D&H.

 

How did we get away from the 611 funding being behind schedule? (LOL )

I sent in my contribution for 611. 

 

Have you?

In speaking to a friend of mine who works full time at the NCTM, NS has no intention whatsoever of funding 611's restoration. NS has spent A LOT of money on 4501 and I think that they intend for that to be the centerpiece of the 21st Century Steam program. NS has also fully restored a Southern E8 that belongs to the NCTM. They towed it to Roanoke last summer when they left the museum with the heritage units. It has been equipped with all the latest do-dads in the cab so it can be run on the mainline. The E8 will be unveiled next year at the "gathering of cab units" at the NCTM. My friend did say that NS is trying to use their industry contacts to stir up support for 611 and maybe court a few big donors. I really believe NS is doing all they can do behind the scenes, but I don't believe they will pull out the check book.

I attended the event at Roanoke, bought shirts, cards and a donation. About all I can do right now. Individuals can help but it really is going to take some Corp support.

I think NS Is doing their part in that they will allow the 611 to run on there rails And to be involved with the 21st century steam program... By no means do I think they will put in a dollar nor should they.  I am sure that some deep pockets or other corporate support will enter into the mix in short order.  As for myself I have donated a few times and plan to donate more in the future as I am able to.

Chris

I called in a donation today and the representive I spoke to said the project is going well and that they have "several irons in the fire" referring to possible large contributions. Sounds positive.

I contributed to the survey on the first day because I felt that this was mainly to gauge public interest.  It's obvious that the public can't fund the restoration and maintenance and some corporate donors will be required.  I don't feel my donations are needed at this point and my next contributions will be in the form of ride tickets once it's operational.

Sent check in today.  Every little bit may help!

 

Side Rod

This is a tough economic time to ask to donate Money to a frivolous cause In most people's opinions. 

 

They really do need some corporate sponsors. I love the J so I already donated as much as I could.

 

  

It all helps. 

 

Chris

Our parish needs to build a new church to replace a semi-permanent facility.  We need $850K to prepare the 5 1/2 acre site by installing underground utilities, grading, etc; then build a 250-person church.  Give or take a $100K, we need about $2 Million bucks.  We have been unable to raise anything towards that amount of money in the last five years, primarily due to the, other than the stock market, stagnant economy.  (Do you know any Sugar Daddies with a guilty conscience who's looking for a way to make amends?)

 

I would not be surprised to see the 611 fundraising take several years.

 

Of course, they may already be supporting one of the untold thousands of needy churches that already exist which need funds. 

With SOU 4501 getting ready, and UP 4014 going to be moved are taking interest from 611?

I don't think so, the 611 has her fans and there are plenty of them.  The VMT needs to have some deep pockets step up...which I really think they will but haven't yet.

 

Chris

In a word, NO! Norfolk Southern Corp. has been funding the 630 and 4501 rebuild & operations with the contractor, i.e. Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, in Chattanooga, TN. all along, for their 21st Century Steam Program.

 

The N&W 611 "Fire up" initiative is completely separate.

 

The #4014 is a completely separate program, and is "funded by an outside concern", thus would/should have NO EFFECT on 611 in "N&W Country".

VMT wants 3.5 million. It should be no surprise they are behind schedule to raise that amount of money in only 4 months.

That's 7,000 people donating $500. Do you know many people willing to donate that much money? With a more reasonable donation amount of $100 you will need 35,000 individuals. That's asking a lot of the general public.

I truely believe there are large donors out there with deep pockets that will eventually step up but it will take a lot longer than 4 months.