The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) which comprises several groups that collectively maintain the 4449, the SP&S 700 and a 4-6-2 of Union Pacific lineage, has been using the roundhouse in the UP Brooklyn yard, for FREE, for many years. The Brooklyn yard is an intermodal facility that UP wants to expand.
The roundhouse and turntable are in an area needed for the expansion. Union Pacific has put the ORHF on 30 day notice, that is not say that they have to vacate within 30 days, but may be given a 30 day notice to vacate. The ORHF has been notified that they may in the future recieve a 30 day vacate notice, but have not been told they have 30 days to vacate yet. At this point in time, they are still in the Brooklyn Roundhouse.
The OHRF has found a property nearby that they are in the process of purchasing, but it is not a done deal yet.
It is my understanding that UP has offered the ORHF the option of taking the roundhouse and turntable with them. While it is unfortunate that the ORHF will have to relocate, at some as yet unspecified point in the future, in my opinion the UP has been VERY GENEROUS to the ORHF. From what I have read and heard, the ORHF is very Happy with the prospective new location. The new location, while oddly shaped, is actually much larger than their current location, and is also adjacent to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (aka OMSI) which will give them a much more visible and public friendly location.
As far as I know the ORHF has been well treated by the UP, and has nothing but Good to say about the RR. Hopefully the ORHF's new home will come to fruition in a timely manner, and will live up to their hopes and needs.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
Actually, the groups that have the 4449, 700 and the other stuff there probably want out of the Brooklyn yard more than the UP wants them out.
They are out of room for all their equipment besides the locomotives, their working area is cramped, and being in the middle of a very busy freight yard is not conducive to public access.
Besides, SP was trying to get them out of there, and not offering anything to help, long before the merger with UP.
emerilcat Actually, the groups that have the 4449, 700 and the other stuff there probably want out of the Brooklyn yard more than the UP wants them out. They are out of room for all their equipment besides the locomotives, their working area is cramped, and being in the middle of a very busy freight yard is not conducive to public access. Besides, SP was trying to get them out of there, and not offering anything to help, long before the merger with UP.
Emerilcat,
Where did you get this idea, I personally talked to Doyle, on Dec 5 during the 4449's Holiday Express rides, He said that they are Hoping to be able to get their new home finalized before January 2011 when UP will start charging them for the use of the property ( $15,000/month) They WISH that they DIDN'T have to move. Union Pacific has let them use the Brooklyn Roundhouse for the last 25 years FREE OF CHARGE, Doyle said that UP doesn't even charge them for the electricty or water ( you think operating and maintaining 2 Steam Locomotives might use a LITTLE WATER?) They would be in no hurry to leave if they didn't have to, FREE RENT & UTILITIES is hard to beat. Any money spent on property whether purchasing, or renting and utilities is money NOT spent on maintaining and/or improving and operating the Locomotives.
Union Pacific has been VERY GENEROUS to the ORHF in addition to 25 years of rent and utilities free, they have offered to let the ORHF disassemble and take with them the roundhouse and turntable when they move to their new home. They WOULD NOT be leaving if they had any choice in the matter, and Doyle had nothing but GOOD to say about the UPRR.
As the Old Saying goes "All Good Things Come to an END"
I agree that UP has been very generous to this group.
IIRC if the SP had delayed the donation of SP 4449 by less than a year, the locomotive would have become the property of the UP. One wonders if it would have stayed on the West Coast or moved to Cheyenne.
Perhaps if it became UP property it might have ended up like some of the equipment that sits (IMO to rot) out in Cheyenne. Not trying to hate on UP, it's just that I hear that 'historic' engines (CNW passenger units) sitting and rusting I'm glad that there are a couple of places that have restored them. I guess you can't fix every thing!
Dan
Dakguy201 I agree that UP has been very generous to this group. IIRC if the SP had delayed the donation of SP 4449 by less than a year, the locomotive would have become the property of the UP. One wonders if it would have stayed on the West Coast or moved to Cheyenne.
There was never any chance of the 4449 becoming Union Pacific property, Southern Pacific donated the 4449 to the city of Portland (who still OWNS it) in the late 50's, 1958 IIRC. The 4449, the SP&S 700 and a 4-6-2 of UP heritage were all donated to the city of Portland in the late 50's and were displayed at Oaks Park. An older gentleman (Jack Holst, is the name that I have read, but not many sources cite a name) would go and lubricate the bearings periodically, because he couldn't watch these wonderful machines left to the fate of nature. His efforts are partly why the 4449 was in good enough condition to restore for service on the American Freedom Train in 1975/6.
Again there was NEVER any chance of the 4449 becoming Union Pacific property, or being moved to Cheyenne.
This is an old thread, I know. But I stumbled upon this and wished to correct something. Yes, Jack Holst used to keep the bearings lubricated on #4449 and the SP&S 700 and another locomotive. All three were wasting away on display, and his good deeds may have saved them.
But he was not an "older gentleman". Sadly, he died in 1972 at the very young age of only 38, just 2 years before #4449 was pulled off the display and refurbished to pull the American Freedom Train.
I am Sorry about the inaccuracy regarding Jack Holst's age, I believe that I read about him in a newspaper article, which used the term "Elderly Gentleman" IIRC, Possibly a "20 Something" author to whom 38 was/is "Elderly", at any rate I Apologize for the error in Jack's age.
It is also Sad that Jack did not get to see the 4449 head the AFT, or see the SP&S 700 back under Steam, or know that the OR&N 197 would Some day, Hopefully join the 4449 and 700 back in Steam.
He performed a Labor of Love, without likely ever knowing that his efforts were not in vain.
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