[PRCo] Re: Museums

[Greg King]

Talk about timing,

In the latest issue of "Tramways and Urban Transit" is this article on Crich
which is appropriate forissues of funding AND period buildings etc.

Greg

>
> 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
>
>


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