[PRCo] Re: Museums

[Charles Brown]

I've very much enjoyed this discussion about trolley museums.  It was a
visit to the Orange Empire Trolley Museum that got me hooked on this
hobby (dang stupid museum).  I did not grow up in a trolley environment
and had never seen a trolley before visiting the museum.  So I guess
I've always had a fondness for all trolley museums and the impact that
they can have on an individual.

And thanks, Jim, for pointing out the importance of the railfan which
has been overlooked and ignored in recent years.  They may provide only
1% of the finances, but they do 90% of the work.  And as you say, they
did save the cars in the first place and built the museums with their
own money and sweat.  They deserve a lot more recognition for their
accomplishments rather than being knocked as dinosaurs from another era
that don't fit in with today's policies.

What is wrong with having a club mentality???  Most of us enjoy
belonging to something where we have the same interests.  It was the
clubs that built the museums, so they must've been doing something
right.  Yes, we need the professional people to get the big bucks.  But
after all, aren't we all working towards the same goal?  Shouldn't we
all belong to the same club?

Rio Vista is certainly the best museum on the west coast.  What they've
accomplished in the last 10 years is nothing short of spectacular,
particularly in their ability to raise huge amounts of money.  Orange
Empire has gone the other way.  Hard to believe that a museum that's
been around for 43 years with 20+ standard gauge streetcars (not
including bodies) doesn't have one that is operable for service on the
main line.  They can barely meet operating expenses and have no money
nor the capability of raising money for major projects such as barns or
restorations.  And they go out of their way to discourage volunteers
from working there.

Anyway, that's my two cents worth.  Now, does anyone know where I could
find a directory of stagecoach museums?  Don't know of any around here.
Knott's Berry Farm used to have a stagecoach line, but I don't know if
it's still around.  And is there a stagecoach discussion list anywhere
around.  I dunno, I'd imagine that they'd have flame wars over
Butterfield vs Wells Fargo.

Oh, one last comment about the Scranton museum's line thru a tunnel.
The best trolley ride that I ever had was going thru Sunset tunnel on
the Blackpool boat tram on the Muni!  The acoustics were unbelieveable!
So I'm looking forward to the day when they complete the line thru the
tunnel.  It'd be worth a 3000 mile trip to ride it.  And maybe I could
visit that "other" museum in Arden or Washington or wherever it is.  

Charlie

Charlesebrown at webtv.net