Indiana Town Raises Enough Money to Save Tower

An Indiana city has reached its funding goal to save a former railroad interlocking tower.

Union City reported on its website that with eight days left in its fundraising campaign it has raised $53,630, which exceeds its goal of $50.

The project involves moving the tower, which currently stands next to the CSX Indianapolis Line.

The tower once controlled a crossing of a the former New York Central (Big Four) line between Cleveland and Indianapolis with a former Pennsylvania Railroad line (Panhandle) between Columbus and Logansport, Indiana.

Having met its initial goal, Union City has now expanded its goal to $60,000.

The money will be used to move the tower 525 feet to a new location a short distance from the tracks in an existing park.

Money raised by the Union City fundraising drive will be matched by the Indiana Housing Community Development Agency.

More information about the fundraising drive and plans to move the tower is available at https://www.patronicity.com/project/save_the_rail_tower

Indiana City Raising Money to Save Interlocking Tower

A westbound CSX auto rack train passes the Union City Tower in September 2019.

City officials in Union City, Indiana, have stepped up their campaign to save a railroad interlocking tower from being razed by CSX.

The tower once guarded a crossing of New York Central (Big) and Pennsylvania Railroad routes.

The “Save the Rail” campaign needs to raise $50,000 by March 25 to have enough funding to move the tower away from its current location next to the Indianapolis Line of CSX, which formerly was a Big Four route extending from Cleveland to St. Louis.

The former PRR route between Columbus and Logansport, Indiana, through Union City has been abandoned.

If Union City interests can meet their goal, the project will receive a $50,000 matching grant.

The city wants to move the brick tower a few hundred feet to Artisan Crossing Park where it would become a multipurpose building.

Thus far the fund-raising campaign has raise about $8,000.

Union City is two contiguous municipalities, one of which is located in Ohio.

Group Seeking to Save ex-B&O GP30

A Cincinnati group is seeking to raise $35,000 to save from scrapping a former Chessie System GP30.

The Cincinnati Scenic Railway is up against an Oct. 31 deadline to raise the funds and has established a GoFundMe page that has thus far raised $1,260 in the past month with donations from 34 people.

No. 6955 was built for the Baltimore & Ohio in November 1962 and is now sitting at National Railway Equipment in Silvis, Illinois.

CSR, which operates the Ohio Rail Experience and the Lebanon Mason Monroe Railroad, said raising the $35,000 will enable it to buy the locomotive.

It will then need to raise additional funds to bring it back to Ohio and rebuild it to operating condition.

If all goes to plan, CSR said the 6955 could be hauling excursion trains by fall 2022, but that is contingent upon meeting fundraising goals.

Funding Progress Continues for C&O 1309

The fundraising campaign to earn the final dollars needed to complete restoration of Chesapeake & Ohio 2-6-6-2 No. 1309 is nearing $60,000 of its stated $100,000 goal.

The campaign, which is being promoted by Trains magazine, has picked up donations in varying amounts ranging from $5 to $25,000.

The magazine reported this week that funds raised thus far have enabled the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad to acquire parts to replace those stolen from the project by a former employee who sold them.

The stolen parts included 12 drive-wheel journal boxes.

Railroad officials have said that restoration of the 1309 to operating condition is 85 percent complete and $390,000 is needed to finish the work.

Donations can be sent to Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, 13 Canal Street, Cumberland, MD 21502, or made online at www.wmsr.com/1309

The former employee who stole parts from the 1309 restoration effort pleaded guilty in January to one count of grand larceny in a West Virginia court.

He was sentenced to one to 10 years I prison, which was suspended. He also received 30 days of active incarceration with work release and must make restitution in the sum of $251,000 and provide 100 hours of community service.

However, Trains reported that it is unlikely the WMSR will receive any money from the person.

The theft of the parts cost the restoration time, but restoration efforts have also been hindered by lack of funding. Thus far the restoration has cost $2.8 million.

Fundraising Goal Met in Restoration of NKP Diesel

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society said earlier this month that it had exceeded its goal of receiving $5,000 in December in donations that will be used to restore a former Nickel Plate Road SD9 locomotive.

An anonymous donor offered to match up to $5,358 to Project 358 if other donors would collectively provide that much by Dec. 31.

The Society did not say in its social media accounts how much money it raised last month.

However, it indicated that the restoration of NKP No. 358 could be completed this year.

When the fundraising campaign began late last year, FtWRHS said it needed $18,000 to complete the restoration and if the December fundraising campaign reached its goal it would put the total funds raised to $13,000.

The Society plans to restore No. 358 to its as-built appearance in operating condition.

Project 358 Fundraising Goal About Halfway There

The campaign by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society to raise more than $5,000 to match a challenge grant is halfway toward its goal.

An anonymous donor offered to give up to $5,358 to Project 358 if other donors would collectively match that by Dec. 31.

Project 358 is raising money to restore a late 1950s built EMD SD9 that operated on the Nickel Plate Road for several years before being retired by eventual successor Norfolk Southern. It was donated by NS to the FtWRHS in 2010.

Donations can be made online at fwhrs.org/donate or via mail at Project 358, PO Box 11017, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46855.

Project 358 needs $18,000 to complete the restoration of former NKP 358 and if the current fundraising campaign reaches its goal will put the total funds raised to $13,000.

The Society will use the funding to restore No. 358 to its as-built appearance.

The locomotive still needs electric work, painting and fabrication work.

PRR Steam Locomotive Print Offered to Donors

A print featuring five historic Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives is being offered by The Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania as a fundraiser to help pay to stabilize five locomotives in the museum’s collection.

The print is a reproduction of a watercolor painting made by artist Peter Lerro Jr.

Depicted are M1b No. 6755, K4s No. 3750, L1s No. 520, H10s No. 7688, and B6sb No. 1670.

Those making a donation of $250 or more will receive a limited edition, signed and numbered reproduction of the painting, known as “Ready For The Roundhouse.”

The Friends group has $190,000 of the $250,000 needed to have the five locomotives media blasted, painted and repaired.

A form to be filled out in order to make a donation can be obtained at the museum’s website at http://www.rrmuseumpa.org or by calling 717-687-8628.

B&O Dome Car to Raise Money for N&W 611

A former Baltimore & Ohio dome car will be used to raise money for Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611.

The Virginia Museum of Transportation said that Moonlight Dome will operate on a series of Amtrak trains beginning April 28 and 29, including the Capitol Limited, which uses a former B&O route between Washington and Pittsburgh.

“These trips allow us to entertain our supporters and offer an excursion during the off-season while 611 is receiving maintenance,” said VMT Excursion Director Adam Auxier. “The return of Amtrak to Roanoke [Virginia] has been a huge blessing and the Moonlight Dome offers a spectacular way to experience the scenery.”

Passengers riding in the dome car will receive meal and beverage service.

Further information and ticket information is available at http://fireup611.org/excursions/

Moonlight Dome was built in 1948 for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway for its stillborn Chessie premium passenger train.

The dome now owned by The Cincinnati Railway, which has renovated the car and given it new paint, fabrics, and other materials. The operating schedule for Moonlight Dome is:

• April 28-29, Washington, to Williamsburg, Virginia, with a long layover in Williamsburg.

• May 4-6, Washington to Savannah, Georgia.

• May 10-13, Washington to Roanoke/Roanoke to Washington.

• May 13, Washington to Pittsburgh.