[PRCo] Re: West Penn Cars at PTM

[Greg King]

You hit the nail right on the head John,

Even here, mostly the same thing applies, I've made comment before about
this being a "dying hobby" and that could very well be the key, our world
famous narrow gauge steam line "Puffing Billy" always has a crowd and is not
short of volunteers, it has all the attributes Ed mentioned. Both terminal
stations are huge elaborate affairs, totally non-prototypical, the narrow
gauge lines in Victoria were always freight with some mixed trains and the
most Luxurious stations were tin sheds with a toilet attached! But they are
attractive and comfortable and the whole thing is visitor friendly.
Excellent point John and Ed.

Greg
> >
> >
> >Gosh, Greg, I'm still trying to catch up with the pay scale for janitors
on
> >BARTD. (they are up in the high 20s/hr - and that doesn't include
> >overtime.)
> >   And didn't the New York MTA have some employees making close to
$100,000
> >a
> >year a while back??
> >
> >As for my comments, guess I'm trying to ask: what would be the cost to
> >recreate the necessary hardware to bring a 'chicken coop' back to
life????
> >I've heard figures of around $100,000 for just 27G truck frames from the
> >Edmonton trolley museum group.  (And in Los Angeles, a couple PE 950s are
> >coming in around $800,000 plus.)  Then there are motors, controllers,
brake
> >system, and the time, effort and skills necessary to install this
> >equipment.
> >   Because even if the hardware were available, who would do the work???
> >
> >By comparison, what is the level of metal working skills and carpenter
> >skills needed to bring a 'chicken coop' back to a "stuffed and mounted"
> >display state??  I suspect considerably less then restoration to
operating
> >condition.  Maybe 2,3 or even 5-1 ratio.  That is, since resources are
> >limited, would it be possible to "stuff and mount" five cars for the same
> >cost and resources as restoring one to operating condition???
> >
> >PTM suffers the fate of far too many other trolley museums in that the
> >public is exposed to a junk collection.  One piece of junk is ok, as an
> >example of 'before'.  Two pieces of junk is inexcusable.  Visit other
> >museums outside the railfan area.  How you judge those museums is how the
> >public judges us.
> >
> >Therefore, as but just one PTM member's opinion, my vote would be to
> >prioritize use of available restoration resources to get rid of the
> >'chicken
> >coop' collection in the passing siding area first (through either
"stuffing
> >and mounting", de-accession, or hide elsewhere), before even thinking of
> >directing resources towards any long term restoration. Of course, if
> >someone
> >wants to write out a check............
> >
> >Again, just one distant member's unpopular opinion.
> >
> >John
> >
> >
> >
> > > >
> > > > Thank you, Greg, for your generous offer of $1.2 million (US) to
> >rebuild
> > > > West Penn 739 as an operating car.  When can Ed expect your check??
> > > >
> > > > Sorry about the sarcasm, which will continue, but why would anyone
> >want
> > >to
> > > > rebuild West Penn 739 - or several other cars - as operating pieces
of
> > > > equipment??  Because anything that is operated is a liability.  It
> > >suffers
> > > > continual wear and tear.
> > > >
> > > > How many operating cars are required for a demonstration electric
> > >railway???
> > > >
> > > > At one extreme are the advocates of trying to restore everything to
> > > > operating condition.
> > > >
> > > > At the other extreme is a position that everything at a trolley
museum
> > >could
> > > > be "stuffed and mounted" exhibits, such as the B&O Museum, for
> >instance,
> > >and
> > > > then buy some Gomaco products to provide the demonstration electric
> > >railway.
> > > >   I use that last term because PTM is claiming to be a non-profit
> > > > educational organization, and not a club.
> > > >
> > > > A compromise in between may be the best use of available resources
and
> > >allow
> > > > for the elimination of the greatest number of 'chicken coops' from a
> > > > property.
> > > >
> > > > Just a biased opinion.
> > > >
> > > > John
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
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