Save the train- let someone else take the last train out of town from another town... It is an important part of Anacortes history and should not be sent south.
The Thompson Train should not be sold to Bret Iwan, removing it from Anacortes where the Train is part of a rich history and once helped bring some of that history to life.
The Anacortes Railway Group should be allowed to purchase (or be given) the Thompson Train and operate it as the iconic and educational tourist attraction in Anacortes that it once was. One of my earliest memories is riding the Train along the waterfront and up to the turn table at the Calico Cupboard where the engine was turned around so it could push the Train back along its path.
It will take time, money, and effort, but the Thompson Train should be reinstated as a major part of the living history of Anacortes.
Wouldn't you like your kid to be able to ride a steam train along the waterfront? I sure would.
please do not give away (fire sale) the Tommy Thompson Train to an out of area collector
exhausting all avenues of running the train in Anacortes should be the City's first priority
lets all work together to make this happen
thank you
I urge the Council to consider the alternatives to selling the Tommy Thompson train. This treasure has a long history here, and if your decision is to let it go without careful and thorough review of the interests of our community, it will be GONE , never to return.
My experience as a member of the board of the museum foundation when the train returned to Anacortes showed me that there is a genuine love and interest for it here, and people, many people, who are ready and able to work with the city to make it a vital attraction again. It is a serious contender for most valuable asset in bringing visitors to our city, and if the Railroad committee is allowed to proceed with plans to get it running again, a perfect way to show off our waterfront. In my opinion, the train belongs here! Not in California, or anywhere else for that matter.
If the WT Preston gets to stay here, having no history in our city at all, then what is the rationale for selling our Tommy Thompson train?
A shame to see train leave, city should approve a right of way along waterfront. I ran the train for Tommy 20 years ago, and it is a viable tourist attraction. It should return to service! Bill Rutledge, retired mechanic
Amos Bowman founded Anacortes in 1879, the first train arrived in August 1890. The railroad has been a foundational part of this city since its inception. The city has invested repeatedly in maintaining its history and must do so again- do not sell the Tommy Train to out of state interests or the last train will indeed have left the station. This time it will not return and the City will be poorer for it. We arrived in Anacortes after Tommy's Train stopped running and so did not see it until it returned in 2012- what a magnificent piece of engineering and city history. Since then we have seen the city operate a quality museum, preserve Bill Mitchells murals, spend significant public funds to preserve the Wilson and Olsen buildings and many other historic preservation activities. Our group has assembled members well known to the City and has obtained support commitments from railroad experts and local businesses and service groups to operated Tommy's Train. Work with us, please.
Please vote NOT to sell the train for one simple reason: IF IT GOES TO CALIFORNIA, TOMMY'S TRAIN WON'T COME BACK AGAIN. This icon of Anacortes history will be lost to us forever.
Tommy built the train with his own hands and tools right here on Fidalgo Island. It symbolizes the can-do spirit of our town, and it delighted thousands of locals and tourists for years. A local group could make that happen again. After a long effort to put together a solid proposal to restore and operate the train, to sell the train when they're so close to their goal would be a slap in the face to a hard-working local group.
Like Bill's murals, or the antique fire truck, this train is a unique part of our history. It's not a part of Calif. history. Money from a sale will soon be gone, but the train is irreplaceable.
Tommy's train is something special, and running again it will be a delight. Headen said, "Our family's only wish is to see this train run again." Please let the locals give it a go.
Save the train- let someone else take the last train out of town from another town... It is an important part of Anacortes history and should not be sent south.
The Thompson Train should not be sold to Bret Iwan, removing it from Anacortes where the Train is part of a rich history and once helped bring some of that history to life.
The Anacortes Railway Group should be allowed to purchase (or be given) the Thompson Train and operate it as the iconic and educational tourist attraction in Anacortes that it once was. One of my earliest memories is riding the Train along the waterfront and up to the turn table at the Calico Cupboard where the engine was turned around so it could push the Train back along its path.
It will take time, money, and effort, but the Thompson Train should be reinstated as a major part of the living history of Anacortes.
Wouldn't you like your kid to be able to ride a steam train along the waterfront? I sure would.
Please do not sell part of our towns history. A thoughtful vision for future of anacortes should include its exceptional past.
please do not give away (fire sale) the Tommy Thompson Train to an out of area collector
exhausting all avenues of running the train in Anacortes should be the City's first priority
lets all work together to make this happen
thank you
I urge the Council to consider the alternatives to selling the Tommy Thompson train. This treasure has a long history here, and if your decision is to let it go without careful and thorough review of the interests of our community, it will be GONE , never to return.
My experience as a member of the board of the museum foundation when the train returned to Anacortes showed me that there is a genuine love and interest for it here, and people, many people, who are ready and able to work with the city to make it a vital attraction again. It is a serious contender for most valuable asset in bringing visitors to our city, and if the Railroad committee is allowed to proceed with plans to get it running again, a perfect way to show off our waterfront. In my opinion, the train belongs here! Not in California, or anywhere else for that matter.
If the WT Preston gets to stay here, having no history in our city at all, then what is the rationale for selling our Tommy Thompson train?
A shame to see train leave, city should approve a right of way along waterfront. I ran the train for Tommy 20 years ago, and it is a viable tourist attraction. It should return to service! Bill Rutledge, retired mechanic
Amos Bowman founded Anacortes in 1879, the first train arrived in August 1890. The railroad has been a foundational part of this city since its inception. The city has invested repeatedly in maintaining its history and must do so again- do not sell the Tommy Train to out of state interests or the last train will indeed have left the station. This time it will not return and the City will be poorer for it. We arrived in Anacortes after Tommy's Train stopped running and so did not see it until it returned in 2012- what a magnificent piece of engineering and city history. Since then we have seen the city operate a quality museum, preserve Bill Mitchells murals, spend significant public funds to preserve the Wilson and Olsen buildings and many other historic preservation activities. Our group has assembled members well known to the City and has obtained support commitments from railroad experts and local businesses and service groups to operated Tommy's Train. Work with us, please.
Please vote NOT to sell the train for one simple reason: IF IT GOES TO CALIFORNIA, TOMMY'S TRAIN WON'T COME BACK AGAIN. This icon of Anacortes history will be lost to us forever.
Tommy built the train with his own hands and tools right here on Fidalgo Island. It symbolizes the can-do spirit of our town, and it delighted thousands of locals and tourists for years. A local group could make that happen again. After a long effort to put together a solid proposal to restore and operate the train, to sell the train when they're so close to their goal would be a slap in the face to a hard-working local group.
Like Bill's murals, or the antique fire truck, this train is a unique part of our history. It's not a part of Calif. history. Money from a sale will soon be gone, but the train is irreplaceable.
Tommy's train is something special, and running again it will be a delight. Headen said, "Our family's only wish is to see this train run again." Please let the locals give it a go.