Saw this posted on Trainorders (courtest TBurzio) about the trouble between the San Diego Railroad Museum and the for-profit Carrizo George Railroad. Thought you all might want to read it here. I've been to Campo several times, sure hope they can get this straightened out.

Regards,
Burlington John



San Diego Reader Article
cbqjohn@msn.com

I thought we had some problems at the Age of Steam in Dallas, but after reading about the troubles in San Diego we are just one big happy family in Dallas.
Tom Cox
Age of Steam
Dallas, Texas

tcox@parknet.pmh.org

This is a generally well-written piece for a newspaper, but note the initial characterization of the museum as a "playground for wholesome hobbyists". I think that is the way much of the public views what we do.

> Saw this posted on Trainorders (courtest
> TBurzio) about the trouble between the San
> Diego Railroad Museum and the for-profit
> Carrizo George Railroad. Thought you all
> might want to read it here. I've been to
> Campo several times, sure hope they can get
> this straightened out.

> Regards,
> Burlington John


ryarger@rypn.org

Having been a member of PSRMA at the time the Borad of Trustees was created, I remember all the strife and turmoil. Many long time members left at that time and the musuem was weakened by that.

I was 'just a kid' of 16 when I first started volunteering there. I had lots of fun, learned alot, and made many friends. A year and a half hiatus after graduating high school(in 1984) left me a bit shocked when I returned(in 1985.) Many of the peple I knew were gone. There was more infighting than a session of parliment in England. But I just wanted to help restore and maintain equipment-too bad for me. I got sucked into that mess just because I was there. And I caught hell for who I was freinds with when I first started! I left for a while, but I just couldn't stay away. I felt the politics were a small price to pay for doing something I enjoyed. When I returned(1986-87), things had calmed down and I actually had fun again. Then things started to go bad again(1988-89) and I sort of drifted away.
I no longer live in San Diego, but I always remember the good times I had and the good people I knew there. It saddens me to no end that things have gotten so bad. I hope something can be done to restore the museum.

Martin N.

P.S. Does anyone have any informnation about the Corrizo Gorge Railway? I thought Railtex's(now RailAmerica)San Diego and Imperial Valley had the freight contract for the line.

> Saw this posted on Trainorders (courtest
> TBurzio) about the trouble between the San
> Diego Railroad Museum and the for-profit
> Carrizo George Railroad. Thought you all
> might want to read it here. I've been to
> Campo several times, sure hope they can get
> this straightened out.

> Regards,
> Burlington John


nitmo@nwlink.com

> Having been a member of PSRMA at the time
> the Board of Trustees was created, I
> remember all the strife and turmoil. Many
> long time members left at that time and the
> museum was weakened by that.

I remember when I heard (not being a PSRMA member but knowing a number of them) about the proposed change in the PSRMA organizational structure back in the mid-1980s. A number of us thought that it was fraught with problems.

I understand why it was being proposed; it was hoped that it would bring in money from the San Diego community by being organized like the successful Balboa Park museums. But I believe that it was ill conceived, because it completely shut out the membership.

There are better ways to bring in the resources of the local community, but care has to be taken to keep the member-volunteers involved in the organization. The West Coast Railway Association in British Columbia appears to be successfully moving to a board made up of member-volunteers and appointed members from the local business community.

BN

bnorden49@earthlink.net

while I can not speak of specifics on this case until the judge removes the gag order, I can urge every museum to NOT take this approach. Do not do it, don't think about doing it - never, ever. NIGHTMARE 16 years long!!!!!

It's OK to remain a small or median player in your community - just do the best job you can with the resources you have. Your # 1 resource is ------

your unpaid volunteer - in the office, at the meeting, in the bookstore, in your cabs, in your trackgangs, in your shops ........

DON'T EVER FORGET THAT - EVER!!!

More specific details on what went wrong later, after court orders and AG investigations.

JimLundquist55@yahoo.com