That is all the pics of the different equipment I was able to shoot. There were a few more pieces that were parked where I couldn't shoot them or get to them and some parked in such a way that it was hard to get shots from one end or the other but overall I enjoyed the time I spent walking around the grounds. The museum building itself was closed so I didn't get to see what was inside the depot. If you are in the area, I'd recommend taking the time to stop. I didn't know the place was here and am very happy that a fellow Trainboard member recommended this stop for me. Hope you all enjoy the pics despite the lack of sun to bring out the colors.
I thought the Little Joe #802 was kept in pristine running condition... Looks like rather into abandonment status... Dom
Looks like weather is a constant enemy. Are any units operational? Do any ever run or move? Agree with Dom. And the "800" looks to be minus pantographs.
You are right there. Weather has definitely taken a toll on a lot of the equipment there. As far as what runs or doesn't, I have no idea. There must be something operational there though as some of the equipment appears to be arranged differently than I saw in some other pictures when getting ready for my trip by.
I saw the same decline in equipment appearance years ago when I re-visited the Virginia Museum of Transportation at Roanoke, with their once-immaculate looking GG-1 in very poor shape. As we know, it's just the nature of museums and budgets -- ya can't protect everything. Thankfully, 611 and 1218 are under a roof.
Sadly, when the public perceives a decline, thereafter follows falloff of interest and then money flowing into an effort also diminishes... So it can be a self-defeating allowance by the organization.
I've read several articles in the last few years on museums and their missions and in view of limited budgets, a number of museums are more carefully defining what they wish to preserve and selling off, trading or scrapping marginal equipment that doesn't fit their scope. Some museums have loaned or traded equipment, such as the Museum of Transportation, St. Louis did by sending it's N&W Y6a to Roanoke in exchange for the Virginia Museum of Transportation's SSW FTB unit an a companion to it's FTA.
Very true. When they start up, especially in past decades, many have simply grabbed and ingested anything available. Thereby creating a quick and large collection, but also what is essentially a mess, difficult to maintain.
