Save the LRC!

[Tom6921]

The Toronto Railway Historical Association (THRA) has placed a deposit with VIA Rail Canada to purchase one of the last remaining LRC locomotives, number 6917. We have until August to raise the balance of the purchase price. We need your help to complete this purchase and move the LRC to the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre. If we are unable to save this locomotive, it will be scrapped along with all of the other LRCs on VIA property.

They need to raise $40,000 by August 1 to complete the purchase of the locomotive and an additional $110,000 to truck the unit to the John Street Roundhouse.

VIA can't donate the unit since they're a crown corperation. However, they would give a $100 gift card for each $500 donation (first 70 $500 donations only).

Full details can be seen here: http://www.trha.ca/LRC/

[Tom6921]

So far, $16,000 has been raised to purchase LRC 6917 from VIA. The THRA still needs another $14,000 and needs it in less than a month!

[Tom6921]

The LRC has been saved! Though starting in September, VIA will start charging storage fees, however a short line 90 minutes from Toronto which won't be named until it's officially approved has offered to store the unit for free then they will get it operational and allow cab rides until the THRA raises enough money to move it to the John Street Roundhouse.

[Noel Weaver]

One other LRC locomotive has already been preserved at Exporail in St. Constant, Quebec. I saw it there a couple of weeks
ago and it doesn't look bad.
Noel Weaver

[Tom6921]

After inspecting 6917, they've determined it needs new batteries to get it running again. That will be $7000.