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| North Carolina Transportation Museum: hospitality https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10253 |
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| Author: | John D [ Sun Jul 18, 2004 6:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | North Carolina Transportation Museum: hospitality |
This past weekend a young man with autism visited the North Carolina Transportation Museum with his mother. This young man is absolutely enthralled with steam locomotives in every way, shape, and form. Their summer vacations consist of traveling from one railroad museum to the next, and he can cite chapter and verse on each and every locomotive. At every step of the way, he has been treated with kindness and consideration. Leave it to NCTM to go above and beyond, providing a level of hospitality that is going down in the family record books. A guided tour of the shop facilities was a treat and the stuff of many future conversations. A handcar ride was a truly unique, a rare opportunity for a special person. But the absolute hit of the day was a cab ride-the first of his life-in an operating Shay. I could see this young man as the Shay went past. Clad in a railroad hat, he was ringing the bell like an integral part of the engine crew. His mother had a grin that radiated from the cab. I think we can all remember our first cab ride and how it shaped our lives; this was just such a lifeshaping event. All across NCTM that day this young man was greeted with smiles, friendliness, enthusiasm, and hospitality. He and his mother were treated like royalty, in that down-home fashion where everyone feels like family. The volunteers working at NCTM that day had a very full plate to begin with (a large corporation's employees were being hosted that day). I'm sure every one of NCTM's guests was treatedly superbly. But I do know that two people in particular had an experience they'll cherish for the rest of their lives, and the staff at NCTM is to thank for that. Henry, Jim, David, Larry, Eric, John B, and others made this day absolutely perfect. Folks, thank you, and God bless you. p.s. this isn't off-topic, because this is how you bring customers back! ;-) jcpdekeNOSPAM@aol.com |
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| Author: | Matt Conrad [ Mon Jul 19, 2004 10:14 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: North Carolina Transportation Museum: hospital |
> The volunteers working at NCTM that day had > a very full plate to begin with (a large > corporation's employees were being hosted > that day). I'm sure every one of NCTM's > guests was treatedly superbly. But I do know > that two people in particular had an > experience they'll cherish for the rest of > their lives, and the staff at NCTM is to > thank for that. Henry, Jim, David, Larry, > Eric, John B, and others made this day > absolutely perfect. That's just the South. Most folks down heah are like that. The attitude changes a bit when you actually MOVE down here, however. We really mean it when we say "y'all come back," but the part we also mean but don't say is "leave your money and then go back home." :o) At the risk of sounding like a braggard, we impressed some folks this weekend one state farther south, too. A family of four got busy in the gift shop and missed the last train. We stopped and took the whole train back a mile to get them. That's the second time I've done that (I was conductor), and I think one other conductor at SCRM has done it once, as well. Just out of curiosity, have any other operations done this? The South Carolina Railroad Museum mconrad@msmgmt.com |
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