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N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson signs executive order creating the Centennial Task Force at the 2926 retoration site.
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Centennial Train Project
A Centennial Train has been proposed for the 2012 New Mexico celebration.
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2012 Centennial Train Project
NEW MEXICO CENTENNIAL TRAIN
A delegation from NMSL&RHS met on
October 10th with Lt. Governor Dianne Denish,
Secretary of the Dept. of Culture Affairs, Stuart
Ashman, and Bill Hume of the Governor’s office
to propose a Centennial Train headed by
the ATSF 2926 to celebrate New Mexico’s
100th birthday as a state of the union in 2012.
NMSL&RHS Delegation with Lt. Governor Denish
L to R Bob DeGroft, Albert Leffler, Mike Hartshorne,
Diane Denish, Steve Bradford, and Bob Scott.
A proposal was made seeking support for
the restoration of the 2926 steam locomotive in
time to lead a Centennial Train on a tour of
New Mexico. A commission to organize the
party for 2012 is called for by House Bill 511
presented at the 48th Legislature of the State of
New Mexico in 2007 by Rhonda S. King.
The charge for the commission is to “plan,
promote and coordinate state and local observances”
of the one hundredth anniversary of
statehood. This includes “special exhibits and
traveling exhibits”. The NMSL&RHS believes
that a museum train could visit widely in New
Mexico with a consist of cars carrying displays
depicting the history of New Mexico.
“New Mexico's unique political, social and
historical heritage” as declared by the HB 511
would be assembled into a traveling museum
destined for every town in New Mexico with a
suitable spur. For only a few dollars per citizen
a magnificent educational experience would
provide a celebration without equal. This event
would be hard to beat in 2112 !
Does this sound familiar? Read on.
The U.S. Freedom Trains
The idea of a Centennial Train sounds familiar
because it is not new. The use of a train
to share celebration of historical milestones
with a diverse and geographically dispersed
populace has been done twice at national level.
In 1947, the nation was recovering from
economic depression, a devastating drought,
and a world war. The U.S. citizenry had once
again stood strong and won. A Freedom Train
was conceived as an opportunity to reflect on
the meaning of American citizenship.
The 1947-1949 Freedom Train, a rolling
exhibit of American memorabilia, opened in
Philadelphia on Sept. 17, 1947.
In the following 15 months, the train appeared
in more than 300 U.S. cities and towns.
It was in Santa Fe on Feb 15, 1948 and in Albuquerque
the next day. It ended its journey in
Washington D.C. on January 22, 1949.
The second use of the concept was The
American Freedom Train of 1976. It celebrated
the 200th Birthday of the USA. Like its predecessor,
the BiCentennial Freedom Train’s nationwide
tour was a resounding success.
The idea is too good not to use again—this
time as New Mexico’s Centennial Train.
Our members and other readers of this
newsletter can help. We need accelerated financial
help to have 2926 ready on time.
We need the help of every member and
friend of the NMSL&RHS to work on the 2926
restoration and work on their local governmental
officials just as hard. Serious dollars and
hard work must happen now to be ready for
2012. Spread the word far and wide on behalf
of the Society.
Check our website www.nmslrhs.org often.
Please refer any interested folks to website and
to the NMSL&RHS Board of Directors. The
year 2012 will be a great year for New Mexico,
for 2926, and for rail history.