(rshsdepot) North Carolina eBay auction

["Alexander D. Mitchell IV" <LNER4472_@_bcpl.net>]

> >From Archives_@_Railfan.net
> Message-ID: <3908235.1091653169_@_rdu25-24-047.nc.rr.com>
> Date: Wed, 04 Aug 2004 20:59:29 -0400
> From: "Mark A. Thomas" <markt_@_duke.edu>
> Subject: (rshsdepot) North Carolina passenger cars
>
> This doesn't relate to depots, but some of those who attended the RSHS
> convention in Raleigh several years ago rode in the Mt. Mitchell, a
full-length
> dome car.  The state decided it's too expensive to update it to the latest
> updated FRA regulations, and is now selling it. Via Ebay! Minimum bid is
> $285,000. (The state apparently sold a ferry boat via Ebay.)
>
This is not even the first time that North Carolina has sold rail equipment
on eBay.

A couple months ago, the North Carolina Ports Authority declared three
ex-Beaufort & Morehead Fairbanks-Morse H12-44's surplus.  In their infinite
wisdom, they turned over the most historic and best-condition one of the
trio, along with all the spare parts and tools, to the North Carolina
Transportation Museum, them put the other two (one with friction bearings
and one with roller bearings) up on eBay.  Both were sold to none other than
the steam-locomotive-collecting Ohio Central Railroad, for a combined total
of around $60K as I recall.  They had to do truck swaps to ship the locos
one at a time.

It's my understanding that the NCTM was offered its pick of the
to-be-auctioned cars, but justifiably rejected all of them because of lack
of true North Carolina historical value.  (They *did* get an F40PH from
Amtrak, and apparently they're "blaming" me for that acquisition...........
but I digress........)

For a state agency, North Carolina's surplus agency (the ones in charge of
the eBay auctions) is nothing short of brilliant.  The "word" on this fleet
going on eBay hit the private-car and rail-preservation grapevine months
ago, and every additional stall by North Carolina (and every article like
the Raleigh one) only adds to the hype.  In its current condition, the dome
could sell to a serious operation like the Grand Canyon RR or Alaska RR tour
operators for over a million dollars.  The serious buyers have now had the
time to inspect the cars, get their money in order, and prepare for shipment
if necessary.

And by the way, as an aside, if you go to the Yahoo Group I run,
"TheDomeCar" (a free-wheeling commentary forum about railroad media,
literature, etc.), you'll see an interior shot of that dome.  (Shameless
Plug: http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TheDomeCar/ ; additional members
welcome......)

Now, what can I add about rail stations?................  Well, the NCTM
also has a station relocated to their grounds......
http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/hs/spencer/barber-jct.htm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Baltimore, MD


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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