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Rail Tales[- Trouble at Nor-Cal RR Museums
Author: Ken Shattock (KRK)
Date: 04-27-2015 - 18:51
RAIL TALES
(aka The Plight of Nor-Cal RR Museums)
I dug out a few A-P links to chitter-chatter about certain Northern California railroad museums. Primarily the larger ones or the ones with the most political BS ever known to man.
In no certain order they are:
Project 2472--- GGRM
WRM-- BAERA
WPRRHS--FRRS--Portola
I might mention that as a 50-year member of BAERA, I remember the articles in the assn bulletin,
'The Review', that told about the so-called "Gang of Five" who demanded all corporate documents and went to Sacramento and who appeared to be ready to stage a "Coup" for a hostile takeover.
One of the members of the "Gang of Five" was Peter Hinckley ! Anyway, the "gang" was defeated and we have in place the situation at Rio Vista Junction that now exists.
Fred Krock is an old friend of mine from EBMES days in Emeryville. He was extremely active in both operations and restoration at RVJ until a year or two ago when differences arose about the operation of a particular interurban train. Some of the Kluver afficionados said "NO", you ain't operating it. An argument ensued and Fred lost. So he quit and went to NCRY where they can use his talents better !
The same political greatness exists at WRM as at Portola. The same old members rotate each year thru the Board positions and no one else is allowed to have "trolley power" !
Look thru the Corporate records of WRM-BAERA.. You'll see the SAME names year after year.
Kluver, Plytnick, Holt, Johnson, Vercelli, Borgwardt, Pagni and on and on.
Portola has a possible conflict of interest. Rod is President and his wife is Treasurer. How cozy !!
If you want to see who the whole garrison of subscripts are at Portola that Rod oversees, check out this link:
(it might surprise you) ...
[www.wplives.org]
There are those who cry about NO MONEY at WRM to repair the SN mainline south of Birds Landing road to get to Molena and beyond ! BAERA is one of the wealthiest rail Museums around. One of their longtime past Board Members who passed away, Loring Jensen, donated over $ 6M dollars. Most of the money was put into an Endowment Fund. The club can live off the interest, I'm sure !
However, I don't think that Loring's spirit would mind if the Museum dipped into the fund to complete the line to Molena once and for all.
Car House 3 (named after Loring Jensen) was financed by many people and corporations. Here is a sample list to give you folks an idea: (you might recognize some names) ...
$645,000 The Estate of Loring C. Jensen (for who the facility is named)
$310,520 State of California Cultural and Historical Endowment
$137,500 The Allegheny Foundation
$110,000 Anonymous
$70,000 The Candelaria Fund
$26,000 Richard and Caroline Tower
$17,575 Chris A Pagni
$16,500 Bart Nadeau
$15,200 Fred Krock
$15,100 Robert Jeppesen
$15,000 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation
Additional corporate and foundation support was provided by:
$10,000 Brewster West Foundation
$10,000 The Lakeside Foundation
$10,000 Jelly Belly Candy Co.
$8,500 National Railway Historical Society
$5,000 Union Pacific Foundation
$2,500 Syar Foundation
$2,000 Rio Vista Lions Club
$2,000 Fairfield Host Lions Club
$1,200 Arcadia Publishing
$1,000 Associated Foundations Incorporated
$1,000 Anheuser-Busch
$1,000 Valero Benicia Refinery
$1,000 California Vegetable Specialties
Bet you couldn't find out facts like this from the garrison at Portola, huh ?
Anyway, years ago, Ron Vane and his garrison at Project 2472 (GGRM) stripped "Mike Mangini" of his position with their Club. It was NOT done very nice !
Mike Mangini is the Father of saving 2472 from being scrapped, which probably would have happened if the Fairgrounds wanted the space where it sat for so many years ! Margaret--SP Fan can probably tell us more, if she wants to !
In closing, here are THREE interesting links to read. They concern the three rail groups I just discussed. Read or re-read all of them carefully and then make your own opinions !
Portola Trouble
[www.altamontpress.com]
Rio Vista Junction problems
[www.altamontpress.com]
GGRM--2472--Mike Mangini BS
[www.altamontpress.com]
Cheers and High Greens to all of you...
Ken Shattock (KRK)
(aka The Plight of Nor-Cal RR Museums)
I dug out a few A-P links to chitter-chatter about certain Northern California railroad museums. Primarily the larger ones or the ones with the most political BS ever known to man.
In no certain order they are:
Project 2472--- GGRM
WRM-- BAERA
WPRRHS--FRRS--Portola
I might mention that as a 50-year member of BAERA, I remember the articles in the assn bulletin,
'The Review', that told about the so-called "Gang of Five" who demanded all corporate documents and went to Sacramento and who appeared to be ready to stage a "Coup" for a hostile takeover.
One of the members of the "Gang of Five" was Peter Hinckley ! Anyway, the "gang" was defeated and we have in place the situation at Rio Vista Junction that now exists.
Fred Krock is an old friend of mine from EBMES days in Emeryville. He was extremely active in both operations and restoration at RVJ until a year or two ago when differences arose about the operation of a particular interurban train. Some of the Kluver afficionados said "NO", you ain't operating it. An argument ensued and Fred lost. So he quit and went to NCRY where they can use his talents better !
The same political greatness exists at WRM as at Portola. The same old members rotate each year thru the Board positions and no one else is allowed to have "trolley power" !
Look thru the Corporate records of WRM-BAERA.. You'll see the SAME names year after year.
Kluver, Plytnick, Holt, Johnson, Vercelli, Borgwardt, Pagni and on and on.
Portola has a possible conflict of interest. Rod is President and his wife is Treasurer. How cozy !!
If you want to see who the whole garrison of subscripts are at Portola that Rod oversees, check out this link:
(it might surprise you) ...
[www.wplives.org]
There are those who cry about NO MONEY at WRM to repair the SN mainline south of Birds Landing road to get to Molena and beyond ! BAERA is one of the wealthiest rail Museums around. One of their longtime past Board Members who passed away, Loring Jensen, donated over $ 6M dollars. Most of the money was put into an Endowment Fund. The club can live off the interest, I'm sure !
However, I don't think that Loring's spirit would mind if the Museum dipped into the fund to complete the line to Molena once and for all.
Car House 3 (named after Loring Jensen) was financed by many people and corporations. Here is a sample list to give you folks an idea: (you might recognize some names) ...
$645,000 The Estate of Loring C. Jensen (for who the facility is named)
$310,520 State of California Cultural and Historical Endowment
$137,500 The Allegheny Foundation
$110,000 Anonymous
$70,000 The Candelaria Fund
$26,000 Richard and Caroline Tower
$17,575 Chris A Pagni
$16,500 Bart Nadeau
$15,200 Fred Krock
$15,100 Robert Jeppesen
$15,000 20th Century Electric Railway Foundation
Additional corporate and foundation support was provided by:
$10,000 Brewster West Foundation
$10,000 The Lakeside Foundation
$10,000 Jelly Belly Candy Co.
$8,500 National Railway Historical Society
$5,000 Union Pacific Foundation
$2,500 Syar Foundation
$2,000 Rio Vista Lions Club
$2,000 Fairfield Host Lions Club
$1,200 Arcadia Publishing
$1,000 Associated Foundations Incorporated
$1,000 Anheuser-Busch
$1,000 Valero Benicia Refinery
$1,000 California Vegetable Specialties
Bet you couldn't find out facts like this from the garrison at Portola, huh ?
Anyway, years ago, Ron Vane and his garrison at Project 2472 (GGRM) stripped "Mike Mangini" of his position with their Club. It was NOT done very nice !
Mike Mangini is the Father of saving 2472 from being scrapped, which probably would have happened if the Fairgrounds wanted the space where it sat for so many years ! Margaret--SP Fan can probably tell us more, if she wants to !
In closing, here are THREE interesting links to read. They concern the three rail groups I just discussed. Read or re-read all of them carefully and then make your own opinions !
Portola Trouble
[www.altamontpress.com]
Rio Vista Junction problems
[www.altamontpress.com]
GGRM--2472--Mike Mangini BS
[www.altamontpress.com]
Cheers and High Greens to all of you...
Ken Shattock (KRK)
Rail Tales[- Trouble at Nor-Cal RR Museums