Wheels Museum Benefit Revs Up Busy Weekend

By Charlotte Balcomb Lane
Of the Journal

"So many parties, so little time" could have been the theme last weekend. From the amusing ("Albuquerque on Wheels" benefit by the Wheels Museum folks) to the upscale (Raspberry Home Tour), there was a gathering to suit any taste -- and then some.

I HEAR THE TRAIN A'COMING: One of the largest events was the "Albuquerque on Wheels" jamboree and costume party staged Saturday by the Wheels Museum board. This is the third big fund-raiser in two years staged by the supporters of the Wheels Museum - and what has made these parties such a blast is how seriously the guests take them.

Many of the 500 attendees at the Albuquerque Convention Center donned turn-of-the-century attire and others shook dust off their red bandanas and train engineer overalls. Four Albuquerque women - three accountants and one marketing guru from the firm of REDW - dressed up for the event in wildly feathered hats and early 1900s regalia a la "My Fair Lady." They were Karen Heerschap, Maggie Zahm, Melinda Guillemette, and Gail Reese.

Leba Freed, President of the Wheels Museum Board and a tireless museum supporter, donned a vivid red dress that she said was from an original 1950s episode of the Milton Berle television show. All sat down to an old-fashioned chicken-fried steak and cream gravy dinner that was taken from an original menu of the Alvarado Hotel, which was demolished 30 years ago.

This party had a specific purpose: To raise money to offset $50,000 in expenses incurred in moving Santa Fe Locomotive #2926. You may remember that the historic locomotive was moved earlier this year from hibernation in Coronado Park to a siding near the museum, where it awaits restoration. The New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society bought the train from the city of Albuquerque, and paid for its move.

The society's goal is to restore the black beauty to working condition and use it as a centerpiece of the transportation museum.

Between games of chance, an auction and other silliness, the party raised about $15,000, said Wheels executive director Alan Clark. "It was significant," he added, indicating that money-raising efforts are still chugging along.

On hand was a bona fide Hollywood celebrity type. Actor Michael Gross, best known for his role as Michael J. Fox's dad in the 1980s sitcom "Family Ties," attended the party (sans costume) with Bob Saar, manager and co-owner of Santa Fe Southern, the shortline railroad that operates excursion and freight trains between Lamy and Santa Fe. Gross, a part-time Santa Fe resident, is also an investor in the Southern.

Gross said he begins work next month on another sequel to the classic 1989 cult thriller, "Tremors," which starred Kevin Bacon.

Also there was Julia Seligman, a longtime supporter of the arts in Albuquerque, who was a member of the fund-raising committee; Charles and Susan Incendio, charter members of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society; and Tom Fenton, co-owner of the Range Cafe & Bakery in Bernalillo, and his wife, Chris Fenton.