Rail for extensions available from museum in WI

[Olin Anderson]

I saw that yesterday, the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, WI is offering up a good quantity of 60 lb and 72 lb rail. It is being carefully assembled in stockpiles with OTM as they rebuild their mainline. The bidding for the auction closes on March 6th, 2025.
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=48548
I'm always hoping the extension to Head Tide, Whitefield, or beyond becomes an official project someday. The worries about FRA jurisdiction should not be too onerous, many museums address it. To my knowledge, the rules have been created to make it tolerable for organizations. I can see that spreading the organization too thin is a concern. Hopefully the member/donor/visitor base grows enough to support it.

[Ed Lecuyer]

The WW&F BOD is aware of the roughly 1.2 miles of 60# rail that is for sale in Wisconsin. A proposal is being discussed - and there is a BOD meeting this Saturday @ 4pm during which members are invited to attend and voice their support or concerns. As always, we count on our members and friends to fund and support any acquisition of rail and possible further extension of the railway.

[John Kokas]

This is one of those "roll the dice" decisions.  If the rail and jewelry can be obtained for a good price and also with a payment plan, I would say jump at it.  It's not like there is a ton of 60lb rail floating around and no one is producing it unless a special order.  And lastly, even if we don't expand further, what will we do in the future about replacement rail