Without knowing more about the museum's thinking or the Friends of the 261's finances, one can only speculate on the prior negotiations. But intuitively to this observer etl sounds right on.

But now the world is right. 261 is a handsome engine and the Friends of the 261 did and presumably will do a wonderful job of maintaining and marketing it. They really should get credit for being little short of miracle workers. To create the infrastructure to maintain a mainline steam locomotive, assemble a great train to pull, and successfully deal with the bureaucracies of the railroads and Amtrak....WOW. Somebody was a real visionary to think it could happen, and a wonder worker to pull it off.

But before we celebrate victory is would be good to think about how we can help the Friends (or whatever they call themselves now) raise the money to pay the bills. In the final analysis steam engines are fueled with money. Donations, tickets, whatever....help the cash flow or the dream can come to an abrupt end.

JBWX