Firm Agreement Reached to Keep MNG in Portland into early 2017

[John McNamara]

From today's Portland Press Herald:

The owners of the Portland Co. complex on Fore Street announced Thursday that the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum will remain on Portland’s eastern waterfront through 2017.

The quoted sentence said "through 2017," but Donnell Carroll"s quote later in the article said "through 2016 and into early 2017."

For more detail, see http://www.pressherald.com/

-John

[Glenn Christensen]

That's good news!

Thanks John!


Glenn

[Mike Fox]

Well they just lucked out. Very nice

[Ken Fleming]

It only prolongs the problem.  It will however provide more time to raise the funds needed for the move.

[Joe Fox]

It will be interesting to see how they plan to raise such a large amount of money in such a short time. I wish them the best.

[Ken Fleming]

Perhaps we could make a deal the MNG museum transport and store/use some equipment.  We
sure could use a combine and a coach.  That would give us two complete 2, 3 or 4 car train sets. 
The combine is for ADA wheelchair/walker access.  I know that there certain individual here that
don't want another "round top" car at the museum.  To this I say, "its only until we build our own
cars or return the cars to MNG at Gray at a later date".

We can also aid MNG with our trailer for hauling cars and what not, in payment for equipment
"rental".  Think about.

[Joe Fox]

Thats a sore subject to get in to. about four or five years ago, they wanted temporary homes for some of their equipment. The museum was unable to take some due to lack of space in the yard and buildings. I don't know the whole story, but shortly after that time frame hard feelings were formed, & a rivalry began. it was an unfortunate set of events, and a few volunteers from the museum tried to go down a few times to Portland to help out, and it was quite clear that tensions were high and hard feelings were had. So those of us that went down lost interest very rapidly.

[Mike Fox]

That is also a subject better off broached with the board in a less than public setting. Some of the best deals are done in the back offices