Coronavirus: Talk About It Here, Please

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:21 pm

And the Colorado Railroad Museum announces its closure:

Quote:

Colorado Railroad Museum Temporarily Closed

The Colorado Railroad Museum is now closed to the General Public through at least the end of March. Depending on circumstances, this closure may be extended. It is no longer prudent to continue to offer an outdoor gathering place for the community, given the rapid spread of the coronavirus. We’re truly saddened to have to make such a decision, but we ask for your understanding in these difficult times.

All of our scheduled public activities and events during this same time have been cancelled. This includes train rides, guided tours and lectures, and exhibit openings. If you pre-purchased tickets for a specific activity during the next couple of weeks, we will be happy to issue a refund or apply your payment to cover rescheduled events per your wishes.

We’ll continue to monitor the constantly-changing situation, and respond accordingly. We appreciate all of your past support, and look forward to once again welcoming you back to experience the rich legacy of Colorado railroading here in Golden. In the meantime, please stay safe and look out for your loved ones.

Al Stangenberger · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:59 pm **Posts:** 650

Western Railway Museum is temporarily closing:

Quote:

Museum Temporary Closure

The Western Railway Museum will be closed to the public 3/21-3/22.

There will be a publicly accessible Board meeting Saturday morning in the library, no other museum access will be available

Randy Hees · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:56 pm

All Nevada State museums, including the railroad museums at Carson City, Boulder City and Ely (we own the passenger and freight depots and the office building) closed at the end of the day, March 14th, through at least March 29th...

According to their web site, the Nevada Northern Railway at Ely is open.

EJ Berry · **Posted:** Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:03 pm

Steamtown NHS in Scranton has posted:

"Steamtown NHS will temporarily close effective Tuesday, March 17 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, and volunteers have always been our top priority and we are taking this step for their protection and to help prevent the further spread of the virus. We look forward to welcoming our visitors back at a time when public health officials indicate it is appropriate to do so. Please check our website at www.nps.gov/stea for updates."

Phil Mulligan

railfan261 · **Joined:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:30 pm **Posts:** 226

Minnesota Transportation Museum is closed:

https://transportationmuseum.org/covid-19-message

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2020 2:31 am

The Nevada Northern at East Ely, Nevada, is closing. From its email this evening (3-17-20):

Quote:

After careful thought and deliberation of our duty in the face of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak, and in what we believe is in the best interest of our guests, staff, volunteers, and local communities, the Nevada Northern Railway Museum and its grounds will be closed to the public from March 18 through March 29, 2020.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience. As more information becomes available it will be posted on the website. If you need further assistance, please email us at info@nnry.com or give us a call (775) 289-2085.

Chris Webster · **Joined:** Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:45 am **Posts:** 1087

A March 16, 2020 report from the Imperial College Covid-19 Response Team is summarized in this informative twitter thread by Jeremy C Young.

Young's thread has two important points I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere:

Expect the pandemic to last at least 18 months because that's how long it takes to develop a vaccine safe enough to innoculate all humans
Models that "flatten the curve" assume that all Americans over 70 will be social distancing

The full report is here: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID19 mortality and healthcare demand (PDF)

Since Young is an unverified twitter user, I'll end by noting that his thread was recommended by
Andy Slavitt, a verified Twitter user who was the head of Medicare, Medicaid & ACA under Obama.

xboxtravis7992 · **Joined:** Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:33 am **Posts:** 195

From my hometown museum:

https://tooelevalleymuseum.com/2020/03/ ... -response/

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

No more Amtrak service from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. Didn't see that coming.

co614 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:40 pm

Thanks for the link to the report. I read it. My take away is that this is going to be a VERY long ordeal and we had better prepare for it.

Ross Rowland

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:04 pm

co614 wrote:

Thanks for the link to the report. I read it. My take away is that this is going to be a VERY long ordeal and we had better prepare for it.

Ross Rowland

Indeed. The disease is going to take a long time and financial bad times are coming. My personal opinion is that we are looking at a global recession (at best).

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2876

A group of people at the (Locust Avenue, Mill Valley) railroad depot on NorthWestern Pacific's "South End" wearing masks during the Spanish Flu (so-called, but it apparently originated in Kansas) outbreak, circa 1918. The woman on the right with a sign on her coat, “wear a mask or go to jail.” From the NWPRRHS closed facebook page.

Al Stangenberger · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:59 pm **Posts:** 650

Al Stangenberger wrote:

Western Railway Museum is temporarily closing:

The Western Railway Museum will be closed to the public 3/21-3/22.

There will be a publicly accessible Board meeting Saturday morning in the library, no other museum access will be available

WRM's Board meeting 3/21/20 has been cancelled.

Solano County issued a "shelter in place" order effective until 4/7/2020. The Museum will be closed until at least that date.

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Thu Mar 19, 2020 2:29 am

Old Pueblo Trolley in Tucson, Arizona is partially open to the public at this time, as we operate two separate museum facilities in two adjacent cities. The subsidiary Southern Arizona Transportation Museum (located in Tucson, Arizona) is closed pursuant to the Order issued by the Mayor, closing public gathering places including museums.

The Old Pueblo Trolley Transit Museum is located in South Tucson, Arizona which is a separate municipality. The Mayor there has issued an emergency order, requiring public gathering places to implement social distancing policies, but has not ordered any closure orders yet. I’ve been keeping our officers informed about the changes so that we can make the necessary decisions.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana will be closed until further notice. The bi-monthly Membership/Business meeting scheduled for this coming Saturday (3/21/20), will not be held.

Les