Steam & Excursion > Monticello Railway Museum issues challenge to other museums

Railroads Helping Railroads: One Day for Whitewater

Last week, our friends at the Whitewater Valley Railroad were hit by catastrophic flooding. When something like this happens, the railroad preservation community has an opportunity to come together and help one of our own.

The Monticello Railway Museum and the Monticello Railway Museum Foundation in Monticello, Illinois are launching the Railroads Helping Railroads: One Day for Whitewater Challenge. We are committing one day of our ticket revenue to support the Whitewater Valley Railroad and their recovery efforts and we're challenging other railroad museums, tourist railroads and preservation organizations across the country to join us.

The idea is simple: pick one operating day and donate that day's ticket revenue to the Whitewater Valley Railroad's recovery efforts. Whether your organization carries 50 passengers or 500, every ticket can help make a difference.

Historic railroading survives because people step up when they're needed. We may preserve different equipment, operate in different communities and tell different stories, but we're all part of the same preservation family.

The Monticello Railway Museum and the Monticello Railway Museum Foundation are in. Who's next? Choose a day, join the challenge and help us show what the railroad preservation community can accomplish when we come together. Let's see how far down the tracks we can take this.
 

Can we make a list here of who publicly accepts the challenge? 

I thought to myself earlier today, "Wouldn't it be great if one or more Class 1 railroad, regional, short line, or commuter operator could host a one off passenger special with the proceeds going to the Whitewater Valley?"  For that matter, bring in a Pete Lerro, Dak Dillon, or Chris Lantz as well.

Jeff Gast
Greenwood, Indiana  

The damage to the Whitewater Valley would indicate the need for large amounts of dollars from federal and state sources, but that probably won't happen.
A tourist RR will be at the bottom of the priority list, same as the WMSR found out with their Georges Creek Div. last year. That particular disaster remains untouched.
While a nice gesture, the few hundreds or thousand dollars made available may help save some equipment or help move their shop, but their operating route is likely done for.

I wonder if the fact that in Metamora, the terminus of the RR, there is a Whitewater Canal State Historic Site may make a difference. Perhaps Indiana might kick in a few books to help the RR, although there has been such extensive damage in that area that this would probably be low priority.