[PRCo] Re: Railfans Running Museums

[Jim Holland]

Good Morning!!

> Fred W. Schneider III wrote:

> Jim Holland makes some interesting points ... including

> 1.  All people at museums are railfans. He claims that denying it
> doesn't change the facts.

>   Jim, I strongly protests.

> Today? At some museums, yes.  At others, no.
> I can go through the members at PTM and in complete truth
> say this isn't true.  We have people whose hobbies include museums ...
> any kind of museums.  We have one member who is a former school teacher
> who is there because a friend gave him a membership ... he is running
> for the board this year.  He is an educator, not a railfan.   We have
> some young people whose interest is in
> making something work

	This can turn into an exercise not unlike defining:::   *-*->>  What IS and What Is NOT a
PCC??*   And all this comes under the curse of Death   ---   absolutely nothing can be
defined perfectly.
	But by and large, those people who spend time at trolley museums working on trolleycars;
those who subscribe to trolleycar email lists, magazines, periodicals, newsletters; those
who collect memorabilia about trolleycars whether it is hardware, software, books,
photographs, etc.   ---   and then claim that they are not railfans are only kidding
themselves.   And it has happened right here on this list numerous times, Yes!!(:->)  
---   even within the context of this thread.

	Justin Skrbin who does much welding on Red Arrow-14 might not be a railfan, but he is
certainly the beginnings of one, Yes!!

> 3.  Railfans started museums "and now they seem to be denigrated as
> barriers to serving the public."  Then he supported this with John
> Swindler's remarks about church ministrations ending at the coffee
> table.

	Not so much supported as used for emphasis.   It must be admitted that the trend, even
during this thread, is to disassociate oneself from the term  *railfan.*

> Two commonly repeated names are those of raving railfans, foams,
> whatever you want to call them.

	This is something that I wanted to avoid altogether.   I know such terms are used, but
feel that it is totally inappropriate.   Please note that this is not directed personally
but is addressed because the topic is mentioned   ---   and the topic has been strongly
hinted at in other posts.
	Stepping outside the realm of railfan or trolleycar enthusiast, our inhuman nature
elevates self by denigrating someone else   ---   that is part of the curse of sin which
all fall under and which we must fight against, and as a church--treasurer, I am sure you
well understand what I am saying.   Let's look at the next statement and then try to tie
things together a little.

> CAPITALS
> FOR EMPHASIS: PERHAPS IT IS OK TO SAY WE ACCEPT RAILFANS AS LONG AS THEY
> ARE WITH THE PROGRAM.  If they want to foam about their favorite car and
> drive the public away, then we really don't need them.

	So what it really boils down to is this   ---   it is all a matter of Relativity!!!  
Those in power set the tone and direction  --  we have already recognized that there are
many aspects to being a railfan and rarely if ever does one individual encompass all such
aspects.   It is not a matter of right or wrong, but what is expedient for the moment.  
Those not in favor then  ({[foam]}).
	I protest against the labels.   Yes, there are railfans who make me uncomfortable, but
this is Always a 2-way street with absolutely everyone.   I have to recognize that those
who enjoy the hobby in a different way are still enjoying the hobby  *in--their--way*  and
that is the only real difference between the two of us.   To label them, esp. with foam,
is to denigrate, and this is quite honestly what has been happening right in this very
thread!
	And as I mentioned before, it is the Almighty--Dollar which dictates, and like pumping up
subscriptions on a magazine which allows for charging higher advertizing rates, catering
to the public allows for greater grant money.   Chase the dollars and forget the people is
what it amounts to.   Some have said that life is about Money and Power and they might
work for a time, but even these will cause failure as well.
	Life is about relationships - but when we deny some to cater to others because it brings
in the money, we deny this fact.

> And here I agree with you.  Death is part of living.  It is a
> continuum.  And those that don't adapt will die.

	Whether or not You and I adapt, we are still going to die   ---   plain and simple!   And
as far as any Organization is concerned, it will die as well.   I have far less concern
about Non--Human death than I do human--death   ---   twould rather see us working toward
quality and longevity of life than pushing for an organization to survive the individuals
life!   For the most part, trolley museums will die as well.   So let's enjoy them and the
trolleycars that are saved to the fullest Now!!

> But isn't it so much nicer if Bob Brown can look down on us from where
> he is today, and think, I started it all?

	Seriously doubt that this would be his concern if he is Up--There!!!!(:->)

	As Bob Rathke said, the definition of a railfan does not make a requirement of being
associated with a railway in life   ---   just a desire so to do!   A person could never
ever see a live railway and still be a railfan.

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James B. Holland

Holland  Electric  Railway  Operation
    "O"--Scale  St.-Petersburg Trams Company Trolleycars  &
        "O"--Scale  Parts  mailto:pghpcc at pacbell.net
        Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) http://www.pa-trolley.org/
    Pittsburgh  Railways  Company  (PRCo),   1930  --  1950
N.M.R.A.  Life member #2190; http://www.nmra.org

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