[PRCo] Re: MUSEUM MUSINGS

[Fred W. Schneider III]

Regarding your note below, Roger,

1.  Why is a shift in interest to railroads instead of trolleys their
"biggest problem?"  Is this really a problem?  

2.  Why would one want to start work on other cars if you can only field
three Los Angeles cars as it is?  Should not the maintenance issues be
brought under control before staff is diverted to restoration?  Put it
another way, wouldn't you want to fix the collision damage before
totally tearing apart some other car? 

3.  Over greased rail?  Were the car sand hoppers filled?  

4.  I cannot understand why it is wrong to know the costs and develop an
implementation timetable before starting a new restoration project.  It
seems to me that these are normal and valid business practices!  I would
go one step farther and proclaim that the work simply doesn't begin
until I see the money to complete it.  Perhaps I should add the money
plus a 100% overrun because I've never known a railfan project to come
in under budget and ahead of schedule.

Fred Schneider

ROGER Jenkins wrote:
> 
> In answer to your question about OERM , I am a member of that and
> Seashore which I joined in the dark ages of 1949 when nothing was
> running. OERM [Orange Empire Ry. Museum ] has the same financial
> problems as the others but their biggest problem is a shift in focus
> away from trolleys to railroad equipment . They could only field 3
> operational  Los  Angeles Ry cars for the last rail festival  with the
> others laid up due to collision damage or mechanical problems .
> [collisions because of overgreased rail at the last rail festival ]
> Their car restoration chief is reluctant to start any work on cars
> unless you write up a prospectus on costs and implementation schedule .
> [red tape ]  And other roadblocks too numerous to mention here. So not
> much gets done !  PTM on the other hand has a very industrious group of
> people that push projects along [extension to the north ]  and a large
> membership base that supports it.  The potential for visitors to the
> museum is large and advertising thru news outlets etc reaches the area
> population .  The future looks good !  nuf said