As with all organizations and businesses, a time may come where you have to modify what has been your main focus. For years, the VRA’s  was our motorcar operations. Then, we had a couple of members who decided they could do it better create their own group. Which is fine, except that they decided to make it so we were no longer able to run trips. After some legal back and forth, it was decided we would cut our losses and move on. It was clear we would not be able to undo the damage that was done. With that being said, there was a knock on our door, and in comes our next opportunity!

It seems there is going to be a new operation happening up on the Stourbridge Line, and the VRA has been asked to be in charge of the volunteers! What this means for the VRA is that we can get back to doing what we did for many years, running real trains! As you may or may not know, our organization was created to staff the NYS&W’s excursion trains in the nineties, and the 614 trips as well. Now before you get too excited, this all hinges on the Stourbridge Railroad getting their operation up and running. But the chances are very good that this is going to happen so keep your fingers crossed!

Work on the station is continuing with Frank getting quotes for gutters, the cracked glass on the display case was replaced, and Kevin and Frank have put fertilizer on the lawn. Kevin, Carolyn and myself last weekend stained the new wood for the benches which almost perfectly matches the dark green trim on the station. NS 5291 made a surprise appearance during the staining, but offered no help…..

2013 is shaping up to be a very exciting year for us!

President’s Report – May 2013