I realize this topic might seem a bit abstract, but still worth reading
At the time of this writing, the station house in the town of Hope, BC is slated for demolition. The fate of the 104 year-old building is currently being decided in a local battle between preservationists and railfans for the town's second oldest heritage building, and those who would be more keen on something akin to a stripmall on communities gateway.
This isn't any small phenomenon though; not even one isolated to railway heritage either (next week marks the rushed final day of a much loved former local school). A similar situation to the townsfolk of Hope, BC can be seen across North America as heralds of railways past vanish into memory. Last year Canada alone lost the stations of Port Elgin, Hornepayne, Shellbrooke (if local efforts don't prevail), and Ingersoll, to name a few. Less than a decade ago the CN Drumheller Sub. was torn up despite vocal local opposition from grain farmers; in towns along the old line you can still see the reverence for the rails in the local art, and municipal heraldry.
Here you might be asking why do I stir up memories of the past? Are buildings not used anymore a waste on resources? Does the line that turns little-to-no-profit need existing? Does the convenience store that stands in place of the grand B&O Portland, Maine Union Station serve the community better because it wasn't built generations ago?
I know there are some groups out there and societies on a local level that try to save what they can, stations become offices and B&Bs, lines bought by local farmer collectives to successfully save their town's economic lifeblood, museums that rescue locomotives and cars from oblivion....
...but sometimes this doesn't really ever seem like enough (like taking a twig to a knife fight).
History aside, why isn't there some sort of organization out there on a national level working to fight back against apathy of railways? To promote traveling on the rails? Prevent lines and stations from being dropped from Amtrak and VIA? Celebrate the wonders of the train and the modeling of it? To simply say 'enough!' to those who close lines and services to save a buck or build another corner gas station/beer store? To Unite any and ALL rail fans, model train groups, museums, heritage shortlines, local efforts in one big coordinated direction to turn the tides from scavenging... to rebuilding?
Are you affected? It feels like railroading, and model railroading by extension, is circling a pool of forgotten leaves on a past being left behind as the years go by. A lively rail industry and widespread passenger rail travel directly translates to greater acknowledgement of trains, and their modeling. Hobby stores close with a lack of customers, less folks ride the rails, smaller towns die without a lifeline to bring folks/business to town. Its a viscous circle that there's no hope of reversing, much less stopping, without some intervention.
Say if such a unified group was in place today, your local club/rail museum/preservationist group apart of it, you might only be asked for you signature on a petition requiring signing into a collective website. Some estimate 1.2 million model railroaders in North America; meaning a petition for the Hope, BC station even at half that would be 600,000 signatories from modelers alone. Guaranteeing international news highlights. How about that Amtrak route slated for cutting? Or the the route past the lake town with that one beach cut long ago? Anyone game for Highspeed Rail action?
To summarize back on topic: raising back up heritage railway buildings, lost passenger connections, and services benefits model railroading as a WHOLE. Sitting quietly back when a community loses their railway heritage thinking "well that's 2000 miles away!", yet still lamenting a potentially declining hobby, is adding to a potentially fixable issue. Don't forget, that station 2000 miles away is some future kid's first look into trains, and possibly the hobby.
If there's a group like this out there already, sign me up! If not, it might be worth it for anyone looking into starting even if heritage group members/mainly affected local chapters do their heavy lifting (How about starting small with a new section on OGR Forums dedicated to this?). United we stand, divided we ALL fall. After all, what does it cost you for a virtual signature?
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Though I don't live in BC, here's the address to the folks with the saving the Hope Station house website (copy paste it):
https://www.savethehopestation...EHgcPgdrD1I9VrM29Fq4
or their Facebook (copy paste it):
https://www.facebook.com/savethehopestationhouse
If nothing else, scroll down to the petition link on the site, sign it over your morning coffee, share the Facebook page knowing your helping some desperate folks out there. Speaking from personal experience, its a terrible feeling being unable to save a beloved local building.
