[PRCo] Re: First outing for Rio 1758

[Dwight Long]

Dennis

While I agree that having an open car is a good thing as a "throwaway" daily runner car that is attractive to the public and is not central to the museum's heritage or mission, I can't help but quibble with your reasoning that being of Brill design,  it has a connection to Pa., and therefore should be at Arden.  If one were to apply this reasoning liberally, we would seeking out chicken coops from every state in the lower 48 to restore and have at Arden, not to mention numerous foreign countries, as the products of Brill and its subsidiaries were that widespread!

I also agree with you about car shows.  A great draw, and a good combination for Arden.

Dwight
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis F Cramer 
  To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org 
  Sent: Monday, 28 June, 2010 07:02
  Subject: [PRCo] Re: First outing for Rio 1758


  The Open Car is about 95% complete.  It is not capable of running by itself
  and had to be towed out by GR2 and we put it away with PWCT 66.  We left the
  tow bar connected.  This will enable the volunteer workers to easily move it
  in and out of the shop building as needed.

  As far as the connection to Pennsylvania, the car is of Brill design.  It
  was built in Brazil.

  PRCO 4398 was used for over half of the operating day and we had minimal
  issues.  Over 300 people experienced the Trolley Display Building on Sunday
  (3 different tour times).  A great day, even though it was over 90 with high
  humidity.

  Taking the comments by Fred about what people want to see and reflecting 
  from yesterday (I was the Dispatcher at Trolley Fair)  Most people walked 
  right past the Open Car once they found out it was not moving.  We had 
  several volunteers stationed to answer questions and interpret the car, help 
  people on and off and let them pose for pictures.  The most use it got was 
  for the museum members not involved in anything to sit and visit.

  People would ask me when the Open Car was going for a ride, and when I told 
  them it was not moving, their attention turned quickly to getting a ride on 
  a trolley.  It did not matter what the car looked like or where it was from, 
  they wanted to go for a ride.

  The official numbers are not in, but I was told we sold around 600 tickets 
  yesterday and 2 comps were given to every Classic Car owner.  There were 
  also many museum members on site.  Why did people come in droves?  Many 
  things to do at one stop (check out the museum home page before it is 
  changed) and it did not rain.  Quite a few people were impressed that the 
  trolley ride, TDB tours and locomotive rides were included in the price of 
  admission.  They thought they were paying to see classic automobiles.

  Car shows are huge in western PA.  Look at any local paper and see the 
  number of shows and cruises that happen.  PTM is wise to use this and the 
  truck show as a draw.

  The next major event is the end of July.



            Dennis F. Cramer
  http://home.windstream.net/dfc1