On Thursday, March 14, 2013 – Mr. Linn Moedinger, President of the Strasburg Rail Road Company, Railroad Museum of Long Island President, Don Fisher and Vice President and Counsel Dennis DeAngelis, signed an agreement to restore and OPERATE the LIRR G5s Steam Locomotive #39!
RMLI’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 to partner with the Strasburg Rail Road Company. The agreement culminates five and one half months of talks and negotiations between the two principals.
Terms of the contract provide for the Railroad Museum of Long Island to raise $900,000.00 in FY 2013 and transport the G5s locomotive to the Strasburg property, the Strasburg Rail Road will add $1,086,861.00 to the project, complete restoration of the steam engine in three years and then operate the locomotive on their property for a period of forty-eight years.
Fisher stated that “this partnership is the best way to get the locomotive restored and into operation. After thirty three-years of trying, New Yorkers and others living in the Pennsylvania Railroad region may finally ride behind this historic steam engine. We need to complete this project with a grass- roots effort. I believe the interest and support for restoring this locomotive will be there.”
The Railroad Museum of Long Island officially begins efforts to raise $1,000,000.00 for the move and restoration of the locomotive today. Tax-deductible donations may be made to “RMLI Engine 39” at P.O. Box 726, Greenport NY 11944-0726.