A lend-lease program for rail preservation

I was down at the Illinois Railway Museum earlier this month for the annual Museum Showcase Weekend, which sees some of the museum's "best" equipment in operation. For me, that meant a chance to ride the Nebraska Zephyr train set and photograph 2-10-0 No. 1630 under steam. But one of my most-anticipated displays wasn't even part of the special event hype.

That was the display of two Chicago & North Western diesels, C44-9Ws Nos. 8646 and 8701, on loan from Union Pacific. I had photographed these two locomotives in service on UP for years, and was glad to know they'd found a home, if only for a while at Union. They are, after all, crucial to the story of modern railroading. The SD80MAC was a footnote to history; we need to make sure that the SD70MAC and AC44CW are preserved for future generations, along with the C30-7, GP40-2, and countless other locomotive models that played a significant role in railroading. That likely won't happen until they are no longer viable for service. Until then, why not share them as we can?

There are likely dozens if not hundreds of locomotives stored at any given time for a variety of reasons; why not pick a few (more) for storage at museums around the country? With the proper interpretation, they will do wonders to tell the story of railroading. They could also be a powerful recruiting tool for the railroads whose names appear on their flanks, too. So why not a lend or lease agreement to get more modern, stored locomotives into museums? If the railroads are going to park them, and if the museums have active connections, it seems like a fairly simple discussion. The museums can work up interpretive displays on why these locomotives are significant – and they almost all certainly are.

In the 1990s, I'm told, British Rail would display freshly outshopped equipment at the National Railway Museum in York. It was good for public relations and cheap advertising. After a short time on display, the piece of equipment would enter the regular pool and serve the nation's transportation needs.

Now I know that not all museums have active rail connections at all times, but I know that many of the significant operations do, and they are the ones best suited to carrying out the interpretation mission here.

What locomotives that are currently stored would you like to see on display? And what museum(s) do you think would do it best?