I like the thread below of "How long of a Ride?" Thanks John, for bringing it up. But here's another question; "How long will they (customers) WAIT for a ride?" Let's say they get to the museum at 9:30 and the first train doesn't leave until 10:30, or 11 or 11:30? OR, what if they just missed a train? And the next departure is not for an hour, or hour and a half or two hours? Now it would be great if they spent the time shopping in the gift shop or just "looking around." But how many will do this, or just get back in the car and leave? So, any ideas? How long will they wait for the next train?

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

midlandblb@cs.com

> I like the thread below of "How long of
> a Ride?" Thanks John, for bringing it
> up. But here's another question; "How
> long will they (customers) WAIT for a
> ride?" Let's say they get to the museum
> at 9:30 and the first train doesn't leave
> until 10:30, or 11 or 11:30? OR, what if
> they just missed a train? And the next
> departure is not for an hour, or hour and a
> half or two hours? Now it would be great if
> they spent the time shopping in the gift
> shop or just "looking around." But
> how many will do this, or just get back in
> the car and leave? So, any ideas? How long
> will they wait for the next train?

> Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad
> Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

I suppose the answer lies in what there is to do while waiting. Most people expect a train to always leave within 10 minutes of their arrival, and get surprised that it may be a bit longer. If all your RR has to offer is a parking lot and/or a few display items, don't expect them to wait very long.
Your ticketing people have a lot of power over the customer, and need to exercise it by emphasizing the importance of your site, and how to spend their time, and their money. People allowed to leave your site have a greater chance of not returning than if there is some action, activity, museum experience, walking tour or anything else you can think of. Wrack your brains. Since I haven't made it to Hoosier Valley, yet, I don't know what your strong points are. Your staff will know.
Perhaps you will need to develop a "campus" or railroad village to keep the visitors occupied. If this is successful, such as at Grand Canyon Railway, and Strasburg, and I believe the Hobo RR in New Hampshire, then the area becomes a destination, with the train one of the features, not the entire show. Good luck finding your answer.

When I asked this and similar questions about passenger relations and comfort at the New Hope (Pa.) Steam Rwy. in the late 1970s, I was told that the customers expect an authentic atmosphere and real railroads aren't "passenger friendly". The prime purpose of a tourist railway is so the engineer can run the train!

TyburnRR@cs.com