Martti Virtanen, an entrepreneur from Riihimäki, was elected as the president of Museum Railway Association. He will succeed Mr Antti Välkki who has been the president since 1998. Mr Virtanen has served before as the vice president of Museum Railway Association. Pekka Välimäki, a museum assistant of the Finnish Railway Museum in Hyvinkää was selected as a vice president. The new board was appointed in the annual autumn meeting of Museum Railway Association at the Minkiö depot of Jokioinen Museum Railway.
The new president takes as his main objective to increase the amount of voluntary work made by members of the association.
- Our association has at the moment over 700 members all around Finland, but only small amount of members takes part in running the railway. Our main objective is to internally market the possibility to help to run the railway by attending our work sessions. The recently completed new workshop and accommodation building makes it easier to attend the sessions, even in winter time. We like to also mention that everybody is welcome. There is something to do for everybody regardless your age, education or sex, Martti Virtanen is saying.
Ms Lea Harjula, a bank official from Jokioinen, was elected as a new vice member of the board. Mr Juha-Pekka Viitanen from Jokioinen, Mr Janne Rutonen from Hämeenlinna and Mr Lauri Niemi from Vantaa continue in the board. Mr Marko Tuominen from Jokioinen continues as a secretary and Mr Olli Virtanen from Kirkkonummi continues as a treasurer.
The largest single project of the Museum Railway in 2002 has been finishing up and furnishing the new work shop at Minkiö. The heated work shop has been making the renovation of rolling stock easier, because the work can be done now off season in winter time. The shop is been currently fitted with machinery for both wood and metal work. At the moment there are three locomotives and one railway carriage in the shop under renovation.