A Facebook post by Chris Campbell to the Ahead of The Torch group discussed an insurgent effort to take control of Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp., the nonprofit organization that is restoring ALCO-built C&O K4 Kanawha 2-8-4 #2716. In addition, KSHC is owner of N&W SD40-2 #6162 (on lease to the Cincinnati Eastern Railway) and former L&N C30-7 #7067. Stored on its property in Ravenna, KY is NKP 2-8-2 #587, one of the few pieces of equipment remaining from the Lake Erie & Western (a line taken over by the Nickel Plate), and a 1980s-era steam excursion star.
The effort by Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. was notable because it included close coordination with CSX Transportation, the Class I carrier that both sold the group a former railcar repair facility, and has been willing to move the organization's equipment. This included the movement of #2716 during August of 2019 from its long-time home at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, KY to Ravenna (a move that included RJ Corman).
The post by Campbell is quoted below and All Things Trains will keep you posted on any developments related to KSHC and this emerging controversy.
(Above) Photo Caption: C&O 2-8-4 #2716 during its August, 2019 move from New Haven to Ravenna, KY, led by Clinchfield EMD F3A #800.
-Link to Ahead of The Torch Facebook Group: (15) Ahead Of The Torch | Facebook
-Link to KSHC Website: Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp.
From Chris Campbell via Ahead of The Torch Facebook Group:
This past week, several individuals attempted to perform a membership takeover of the organization that I began in 2015, the Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp. I am no longer president or board member but I continue to perform an advisory role. This is a sensitive and serious matter and while the current board prepares and commiserates with legal counsel before releasing a public statement, I have volunteered to make a post to get ahead of (or squelch) any information - correct or fabricated -in the interim.
When the organization started (and again after some ugly episodes about six years ago) protective language was written into the bylaws to be sure that KSHC was a board run entity, allowing volunteers to represent themselves through a volunteer-elected board member. A volunteer-led coup wasn’t and isn’t even possible. Nevertheless, recently, some former members attempted to rile up enough internal discontent to present a loosely thought out (and potentially illegal) campaign to announce a vote of no confidence in the board, presenting the opportunity for these individuals to “take over” and place a new board. They even went so far as to draft (and subsequently leak) a press release prematurely celebrating the success of the coup. There are many layers to this unfortunate episode, but since the organization is in the middle of navigating this, almost all emails and discourse involving legal counsel review, I thought I would allow those in the industry to know.
This episode can come as a way of giving other entities fair warning that when writing or reviewing their bylaws, keep in mind how you want to be exposed. Also, I hope it can provide an opportunity to exercise caution when involving certain individuals in their organization’s operations despite their mechanical acumen or media presence.
Photo Credit: Chris Campbell via Facebook
