We received a much appreciated and quite generous $20,000 Matching Grant Offer from Al Baker. Who is he and why does he want to help?
Al Baker was born and raised in the railroading city of Altoona, Pennsylvania – a town in which over six thousand PRR locomotives were built and maintained. For Sunday afternoon fun, his family would go to the famous Horseshoe Curve where they watched steam powered trains struggling up the mountain and around the curve. And although trains were in his blood from an early age, he had little time to pursue them until he retired in 2005.
He first learned about the National Railway Historical Society (NHRS) in 2004, joined that, and became active. That led to his learning about the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (ORHF) and the Pacific Railroad Preservation Association (PRPA), as well as other such railroad related organizations. Eventually, he got involved with ORHF which led to him 
becoming the Volunteer Coordinator for the last four years. Al joined the PRPA in 2011.
Al says, “I love Portland’s locomotives, and feel it is very important they are preserved for future generations. The SP&S 700 is certainly one of the premier large steam locomotives in the country. I truly admire and appreciate all the efforts of the PRPA members who work to preserve and keep her running.”
Al now has memberships in the following railroad organizations: PRPA, ORHF, NRHS, Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society, Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, Train Collectors Association and the National Association of S Gaugers.
Al is a retired electrical-electronics engineer working mostly in computer related industry, most recently for Intel. He is also a retired Officer of the US Air Force and Air National Guard. Al is happily married to his wife Marianne, and thanks her for her tolerance of his railroad obsession.
THANK YOU, AL! WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO!