They kept telling us MeC #501 at North Conway was going to "happen", and The "Flying Yankee", and B&M P4 #3713, and other things. Some of us are running out of time to see these things happen.
I appreciate your concern Dick, as the actuarial tables tell me that I have less than 15 years left. However, a look at the
WW&F Newsletter of ten years ago (May/June 2002), is very encouraging, as I note that while Humason Trestle had been built, track was not yet in service there. The big washout south of Alna Center had not been filled, and the Alna Center station building had not been built.
There are some big obstacles, but our record of overcoming obstacles is substantial. We got a lot of the parking lot fill courtesy of Fred Morse sweet-talking a local truck driver, and we got a Marine Reserve unit to build the Humason Trestle. When it comes to "painting fences," we can put Tom Sawyer to shame.
Last, but by no means least, being two-foot rather than standard gauge helps a lot to make projects more manageable, and our chances of political problems, funding problems, and mechanical incompetence are much, much less.
I fully expect to ride the train to Route 218, maybe with oxygen, but I expect to get there. I wish you a corresponding opportunity!
-John