As Maine Narrow Gauge's efforts in scouting out relocation locations is already well known on this board (see Bridgton and SR&RL topics), I thought it appropriate that discussion about the effort as a whole be started.
I belong to a Yahoo email group started by Gary Kohler, "Friends of the Two Footers". Last week Gary brought up MNG's relocation efforts in an effort to get some traffic on the group. Boy did it ever. There was lots of speculation at the beginning and very few hard facts. Now more facts have come out.
MNG essentially tendered an RFP to the towns of Boothbay, Bridgton, Gray, Monson, and Phillips regarding a potential move of some portion of MNG's equipment to those towns. The biggest things MNG wants is a) enclosed shop space, and b) covered storage for the equipment. If relocated to Boothbay, Boothbay Railway Village would somehow be involved. If to Phillips, the SR&RL would somehow be involved. We've read excerpts from Bridgton and Phillips but I've heard nothing from Boothbay, Gray, or Monson. Frankly I'm a little surprised at not hearing anything about the Boothbay RFP in our local newspaper.
Neither the WW&F nor Alna received an RFP, which is frankly fine with me. I think the secret of our success is our carefully controlled growth and focus, and a sudden influx of equipment without a place to put it would destroy that.
Additionally, I've heard that Sue Davis is no longer Executive Director. I haven't heard if they are looking for a new ED or not.