Berkshire Scenic Railway Races to Restore Burned Train Ahead of Holiday Season
ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum is assessing damage to its New Haven 41 railcar following a fire Saturday that took it out of service, while volunteers work to prepare another train ahead of the museum's holiday season.
"It's hard to accurately say how much damage is on the New Haven 41. We are working with insurance to get an adjuster out here, but the crews that have been dispatched are optimistic that it can be fully repaired and restored," Melanie Seiden, the museum's executive director, said.
The fire caused significant smoke and exterior damage to the railcar, including several cracked windows, but the interior sustained relatively little damage thanks to the Fire Department's quick response, Seiden said. However, the true extent of the damage is unknown until mechanics can remove and disassemble the car, she said.
The incident remains under investigation by the insurance company, but the Fire Department believes the fire may have started when a heating pad used to keep the train's lines warm malfunctioned, igniting drip pads underneath.
The nonprofit purchased its first 1950s Budd car a decade ago to begin scenic passenger service between Adams and North Adams. Up until the fire, it was fully restored, Seiden said.
The fire has been a "blow" to the museum, setting back its multiyear restoration efforts on its Boston and Maine 6126 railcar. However, the response from the community and volunteers has been "beyond impressive," she said.
The museum's busiest time begins Nov. 27, when the popular Tinseliner train rides with Santa Claus start.
The Boston and Maine 6126 is the closest alternative to the New Haven 41 in terms of seating capacity, making its return to service a priority. Without it or another comparable railcar, the museum would be unable to accommodate its usual number of holiday passengers, significantly limiting winter operations, Seiden said.
The railcar is equipped with two engines, allowing it to operate in either direction without having to turn around.
"As a small nonprofit, any revenue stream goes directly back into our mission, to the restoration and preservation of these artifacts," she said. "This has pushed that restoration timeline up a tad."
The museum began restoring its Boston and Maine 6126 railcar in 2022, with much of the work focused on returning it to museum-quality condition. Plans include stripping its Cape Rail-era paint scheme to restore its original 1950s Boston and Maine appearance and replacing all 22 windows before returning the car to service.
"We've had that in our fleet for a while, and it's been in the restoration process. So, while we are confident that we'll be able to get it fully operational, it's not going to be at what we would consider museum restoration without some assistance," Seiden said.
Following the fire, the museum has push backed the cosmetic restoration work to focus on getting the railcar operational in time for the busy holiday season.
The nonprofit has established a fundraiser with a $100,000 goal, set based on the restoration cost for the 6126 car, Seiden said.
Restoration costs for the 6126 include an estimated $60,000 to $70,000 for window replacements, $40,000 to $50,000 for exterior work and $15,000 for engine repairs. Transporting the fire-damaged New Haven 41 from Adams to the museum's maintenance facility in Lenox could cost an additional $40,000, she said.
"So, right now we're looking at a total estimated cost of about $165,000. So, $100,000 doesn't cover all of our anticipated expenses, but it does get us a significant step closer," Seiden said.
"Obviously, with the damage to the New Haven, the actual damage we anticipate insurance covering a great deal of that, but it's unclear if they're going to cover the relocation cost for the restoration work that has to happen now."
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