It's my understanding that 4449 is a privately-owned steam locomotive, and is not under the auspices of UP. Wonder if it's jealousy, or selfishness, or exclusivity.......
I thought the entire roundhouse was privatly owned? Just that it sits on UP property. My understanding of the issue was that UP didn't care if they were there, but they would not let it be a museum, because it sits smack dab in the middle of an active yard and the liability risk was too much. So the Roganization has been looking for a safe place to have the museum.
It's definitely owned by the City of Portland, but it sits in a Roundhouse that was originally leased to the City by SP. Now that SP is long gone, and Brooklyn continues to be a busier intermodal yard, a museum is not exactly ideal as you stated. Effort is underway to build a permanent home for the Portland's three steam locomotives -- See www.orhf.org for more info (soon to be updated with new format, check again in a couple days)
Is the roundhouse lease solid enough that they have time to get safely relocated? Or is there need to worry about running short on time? Boxcab E50
Contract is that we can be evicted in 30 days. The ORHF is making great progress with a site that may become a permanent home for the Portland steam locomotives, we also have a pretty good relationship with the UP -- The ball is rollin', and we're pushing hard for a new site!
Would that be thirty days from now? Or thirty days notice? Hoping neither is in the works? Boxcab E50
No eviction was served, it's just that the contract says we can be evicted with 30-days notice (and THAT hasn't happened). It's better to be safe to get the ball rollin' on that ORHF site, so the locomotives would have a secure and permanent home open to the public. Take GGRM for an example, they got served with a 6-month notice, and it appears they don't have "Plan B" considering the sell-off they're doing.
Ok this new site they are trying to get is it of UP proterty with a lead to the main tracks??????????/ JIM
I can think of a couple of choice spots along the UP and BNSF mains and P&W/W&P tracks where such a facility could exist. Heck, You could move the whole shebang out to tillamook. There appears to be some space near OMSI with private Varnish right now that would be a good location. What I'm curious about is what will happen to the roundhouse?
The proposed new site is private (read expensive) property near OMSI, maybe where the private varnish is located (Help me Chris). Is there a site that shows Gus Kamp's plans to help answer these questions? I believe the roundhouse is to be dismantled piece by piece and re-constructed at the new site.
When you drive past OMSI to the east and north of parking is a spur where those railcars are. I say priviate, but if I remember, they were in bad shap, so they could be MOW. Then south of parking are more spurs and a field like area. Here's a google sat image http://maps.google.com/maps?q=OMSI+Portland&ll=45.508866,-122.663051&spn=0.004921,0.009418&t=k&hl=en you can see the spur with the cars in this image. I think that would be an excellent location for such a museum being colocated with OMSI would generate a lot of traffic. A good railroad exhibit would make them more like their big brother MSI.
That is indeed the site by OMSI, and there are a number of proposals on the table on how a permanent facility should be constructed. Plans are to have the Roundhouse and turntable there as well. This is on the Oregon Pacific Railroad, next to the Union Pacific -- The different spurs is for the ex-Milwaukee cars, interchange track, car storage, etc. It's a pretty active interchange, freight runs on the OP at least 5 times a week. Check out one of the renderings at the SP '49 website http://www.sp4449.com/03d.html Next month's Holiday Express, being run by the ORHF and OMSI, featuring SP 4449 is operating out of this site. You should check out the work gallery currently being updated as time goes - Lots of clean-up at the site! http://www.sp4449.com/trips/05holiday/index.html
so it is, and these are the cars I was speaking of. gotten from this site: http://www.brian894x4.com/OregonPacificRR.html In my 3 years in portland with all of the snooping I did around here, I never saw any active operations at this yard.
I think UP ought to let you guys stay at the Roundhouse as long as you need to. I can't believe they haven't recognized the 4449 for being part of their Heritage. UP's policy on not allowing non-UP engines on their tracks is rediculous.
