One of the railfan magazines had an editorial a while ago that the most valuable asset to an operating mainline steam locomotive is a crazy fan who thinks road worthy day coaches are the greatest thing in the world and has the money and time to make his delusion come true.

...kinda interesting, don't 'ya think, that there is very little floating around forums such as these in defense of NRM, their negotiating strategy, and the ultimate outcome. It's almost as if they can't even come to their own defense on this one.

Here's to folks such as FO261, and their ability to build relationships with host railroads. Good luck and Godspeed with the next endeavor. I'm guessing it'll be a success.

You can read this one of two ways:
1) they realize that they've been a bit foolhardy and don't want to fuel the flames of speculation;
2) they're busy actually running a real rail museum and don't have any reason to stoop to such petty matters as this bunch of nay-saying "trackside superintendents" that don't really have any impact upon them, anyway.

On a good day, NRM probably gets more paid patrons than are registered for this forum, and probably more on some days than are registered at TrainsMag.com, TrainOrders.com, Railroad.net, etc. For the record, I've ridden behind 261 twice (out of Scranton) and been to NRM twice, so I'm at least partially qualified to comment.

60 years ago this stuff was going on a daily basis and no crazy fans needed.
I just came off reading a different thread about railroad electrification and there is purpose behind doing what was done with 261 or any other steamer, thats keeping a technology alive that still works. Who knows, with the latest oil crunch, the ACE series is still the practical alternative should the need get there, the ideas are out there in readiness, will the need be needed?

Yeah, can you imagine the uproar when the railroads start running coal burning locomotives? Coal, I'm sure you know, has become the worst fuel on the planet in the minds of those who make the rules.
And if you think oil, well that won't work if it's because of an oil crunch.
Wood? Nah, still too many carbon credits lost.
Mark D.

Trainorders.com boasts 'over 11,000 visitors daily'. Not sure how many registered users that represents, but I bet well over half. I think NRM (or any other museum) would KILL to do that well on a daily basis.

My personal wager, based on demographics, working with websites and administrators, etc.: I'll be amazed if one out of five of the "visitors" are registered users, more likely one out of eight or one out of ten. But, granted, even taking me at my most cynical, that would be 1,100, which would be a good day at ANY rail museum.

Now, if someone could ever tell us what percentage of those are active participants--membership, volunteers, donors, etc.--in any rail preservation........