FRRS Volunteer Wrote:
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> Margaret, the 4450 was a mercy kill that we had to
> take with the rest of the equipment offered to
> FRRS when we moved GGRM. We should have switched
> it immediately into Schnitzer steel. It was like
> taking the hot cheerleader to prom and having to
> take her ugly fat sister too. It was already a
> pile of crap that was too far gone, but GGRM
> didn't have time to scrap it. We went WAY above
> and beyond what was suggested by the Association
> of Railroad Museums as to deaccession of a piece.
> We offered it to the bozos in Colfax and they
> wanted it but were too stupid to ask UP for use of
> the old gas spur to store it. Their loss. The
> thing was rotting, however, parts were used to
> support and maintain WP engines at the museum. I
> am sick and tired of people flinging feces at us
> for scrapping an engine we didn't want, doesn't
> fit our mission statement and was too far gone to
> restore. I and many others work our asses off to
> preserve the Western Pacific Railroad and am very
> offended by the snide comments and crude remarks
> from modelers and foamers alike that wouldn't lift
> a wallet, a checkbook or put down their toy train
> controller, leave their basement and help preserve
> historic railroad items. Those people aren't who
> we are there for, nor will we cater to them. We
> are there and do what we do for the enjoyment of
> the general public and fellow WP historians and
> family. Not an (ex) gun toting, whackaloon like
> Drew, or any of the other loudmouths hiding behind
> their train sets and monitors.
>
> In the future, if you have a problem, issue or
> concern with how we do things, send a board member
> an email or come to a board meeting and ask our
> board directly. They'll take it seriously, as
> that is their job. But if you want to fling poo
> from the bleachers, I'm sure you know where you
> can go. You're not even worth a fart of our time.

Thank you for the mostly kind reply, FRRS Volunteer.

I was just expressing my sadness at seeing a special
piece of SP history disappear. And even had the Colfax
group taken the 4450, it would have been only a matter
of time before she the weather would have done her in.
Sigh.....

I hope you know I was not flinging any unpleasant stuff
at any of the WPRM. Just saying I wish she could have
been saved, and that I didn't understand why she was
scrapped at that time. I am glad that the parts of her
that were worth saving did get saved.

(Some day, a future version of Doyle McCormack may want
to save an SP SD-9. I HOPE there is one left by that
time! That PA was certainly too far gone to restore --
but that is the exception to what almost always happens.)

I really wish I had been in the position to save the 4450,
but I have never been wealthy enough to do so. Nor am I
any longer able to work on RR equipment, because I have
severe glaucoma and double vision. Heck, I can't even
drive any more.

(Your "Pay up or shut up" was directed mostly at Drew,
and others that you think are being cheapskates, right?
Very few railfans are wealthy enough to have the money
to save a locomotive like the 4450.)

For what little it is worth (because I am not wealthy
and cannot lend a helping hand) the WPRM has my support.
I just wish that it had been possible to save the 4450.
Sigh.....