W.W.&F. Discussion Forum
Worldwide Narrow Gauges => Massachusetts' Two Footers => Topic started by: Tim Hairston on November 04, 2010, 05:07:31 PM
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/11/04/popular_tourist_railroad_in_mass_up_for_sale/
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See the details at
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/newsnow/x360240692/Local-owner-puts-Edaville-Railroad-on-the-market
or
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/11/04/popular_tourist_railroad_in_mass_up_for_sale?mode=PF
"CARVER — Edaville Railroad is for sale, the Marlborough-based owner of the historic land said today.
"Developer Jon Delli Priscoli said park operators Brenda Johnson and Robert Julian have decided not to renew their lease, which prompted him to put the facility up for sale..."
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I hope a buyer is found soon. It would be tragic to loose what is left of Edaville now.
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I am usually an optimist, but this doesn't sound good. Especially considering what Jon Delli Priscoli did to the Alcos and other antique equipment at the Grafton & Upton. Brenda and Rob (the current operators) were probably the park's best hope.
He's a businessman first, and I suspect the land at Edaville is worth far more than the amusement park.
One of the comment on the article summed it up well from a business perspective:
Hmm... $10M. This means that a PROFIT after expenses of $500,000 per year is required for any buyer to get a 5% rate of return on their investment. I am not optimistic that someone can continue to run it as a tourist attraction, pay taxes, staff, maintenance, insurance, etc. and have that king of money left over.
Someone on RYPN posted that a steamer from Boothbay will be running at the Christmas Festival this year. Maybe it would be good to pay one last visit.
I think that we should also start considering if there is anything at Edaville that we should have at the WW&F. I believe that Edaville still has one car (coach) from either the B&H/B&SR or Sandy River. Could the Hudswell be rebuilt into a replica of WW&F #6?
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If I had a lot of money, I'd buy Edaville. Problem is, I don't have that kind of money! >:(
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This is very reflective of the economic climate all around us. Many of us bemoaned the loss of The Roy Rogers, Dale Evans Museum, formerly of Victorville, CA and ending in Branson, MO. Trigger and Bullet will reappear this fall on RFD TV, and we enjoyed Nellybelle, Pat Brady's Willys Jeep, at the Hershey PA. AACA Fall Meet this Oct. The 3 Million $$$$ sale in New York City scattered the contents to the wind. Many of our favorite attractions are in serious trouble and only a grass roots effort can save the day. Millionaires are not sharing as well these days as someone posted above what the 10 Million asking price requires for return of investment. Volunteering with our favorite institution is only one of the requirements. The take at the door and membership receipts can only stretch so far. Look at the current upheaval at MNG where much of Edaville stock landed as a prime example. Our WW&F Museum seems to be faring better than most throughout this climate. For that, we must congratulate our BOD and all the caring volunteers that give so freely of their souls to make it happen. We must not let our guard down a moment. Museums and attractions are very much at risk.
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Car 21 from the SR&RL is there. I believe thats it for original stuff. There is also caboose #554 which I think is made from a B&H boxcar.
I am usually an optimist, but this doesn't sound good. Especially considering what Jon Delli Priscoli did to the Alcos and other antique equipment at the Grafton & Upton. Brenda and Rob (the current operators) were probably the park's best hope.
He's a businessman first, and I suspect the land at Edaville is worth far more than the amusement park.
One of the comment on the article summed it up well from a business perspective:
Hmm... $10M. This means that a PROFIT after expenses of $500,000 per year is required for any buyer to get a 5% rate of return on their investment. I am not optimistic that someone can continue to run it as a tourist attraction, pay taxes, staff, maintenance, insurance, etc. and have that king of money left over.
Someone on RYPN posted that a steamer from Boothbay will be running at the Christmas Festival this year. Maybe it would be good to pay one last visit.
I think that we should also start considering if there is anything at Edaville that we should have at the WW&F. I believe that Edaville still has one car (coach) from either the B&H/B&SR or Sandy River. Could the Hudswell be rebuilt into a replica of WW&F #6?
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Well,...
it might be good for someone to get a bunch of trucks. couplers, etc...
but IIRC, most of what's there is of foreign manufacture and not suitable for museums.
That being said, I'm passing around the hat for the "Help Cosmo Buy EDAville Fund!"
Hey look, $5.00! Only nine-million, nine-hundred-ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-five to go! ;D
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And about 85 days to do it. Good luck Cosmo.
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Nine-million, nine-hundred-ninety-nine thousand, nine-hundred and ninety-five dollars to go
Nine-million dollars to go
Take the hat down, pass it around
Help Cosmo buy the Edaville now.
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I think the hudswell could more easily be built into a replica of the Sandy River's Old Star than WW&F #6...
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http://members.cox.net/edacards/card90.jpg
In this picture there appears to be another car like the #26 (now our coach eight) and also an excursion from the old Edaville. Since I don't remember either of these cars being sold they are probably still on the property.
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http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2008100923094723598.jpg&order=byrail&page=11&key=Edaville
and what looks to be a B&H boxcar there during the new Edaville.
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There is one remaining original Maine car at Edaville, a former SR&RL coach. I think it's either 21 or 22. A bunch of other passenger equipment came in early in the twenty-oughts, I think built in Colorado.
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A recent photo (last 3 or 4 years) shows a coach with the celestrial(sp??!?) roof. This must be the SR&RL coach.
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http://www.srrl-rr.org/coach21.jpg
This is the SR&RL coach
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Interesting. Only 2 changes in appearance in the car since it's days on the SR&RL with the exception being paint. Steel platform and the trucks it's riding on. But I also noticed another item while I was looking for builders photos. The SR&RL had excursion coaches that the Edaville built excursion cars resemble. Learn something new every day.
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Isn't this car the one that started out as a baggage car on the B&SR, was rebuilt as a combine at Edaville, and finally converted to a straight coach? Or do I have it confused with another car?
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Wayne,
The car you are thinking about is at Boothbay. See the Thread for that line.
Bern
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Wayne, if I have it correct, the car was actually coach 21 on the SR&RL. Looked pretty much like it does now back then.
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Here is a link to the sale brochure for Edaville, through broker D.F. Barnhardt: http://www.trains-trams-trolleys.com/Edaville_Brochure.pdf
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It's a pretty brochure but with all the nice words about potential it begs the question of why sell it?.
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Exactly.
There is more going on here than meets the eye.
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Just like Transformers... ;D
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Engine 13 from Boothbay has arrived at Edaville. Will run fridays and saturdays in December
http://www.facebook.com/EdavilleUSA?v=wall#!/photo.php?fbid=462590784836&set=a.462590569836.256568.32252819836&pid=5210174&id=32252819836
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I saw an Edaville billboard in Worchester, MA yesterday. The elevated sign is right next to I-290 and advertises the Christmas Lights special trains. The photo showed a GE diesel and had the dates of operation. Looks like the current owners are trying to keep things going by marketing Edaville to folks traveling towards the Cape.
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Is a Boothbay crew running the Boothbay steamer, or is it an Edaville crew?
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Guess it comes down to the almighty dollar. The land, especially in Mass. is worth lots of money to develop. Another page in History? :(
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Is a Boothbay crew running the Boothbay steamer, or is it an Edaville crew?
My understanding is that the locomotive is being run by crew from Boothbay, and at times with various (local) guest firemen...
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Word on the street is that EDAville has been contacted by several "concerns" regarding the purchasing of the park. As yet, there are no plans for holding auction. We'll see what the future holds. Let's cross our fingers and hope.
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We can only hope those "concerns" aren't real estate developers.
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They say the most profitable crop a farmer can plant....is houses.
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They say the most profitable crop a farmer can plant....is houses.
With the real estate market the way it is now? GOOD LUCK!
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They say the most profitable crop a farmer can plant....is houses.
With the real estate market the way it is now? GOOD LUCK!
They are just cheaper houses now...... or big box stores.
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True, but the damage they would do "tilling the soil" for houses or big box stores would be equally damaging to Edaville history.