The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in Jim Thorpe has just began its first excursion season. There main public relations tool is their mascot, Lehigh George. George is a bear dressed in railroad attire (engineers hat, bandanna, and overalls). He stands at the station before excursions and waves to passing traffic, greets children, and poses for pictures. George serves as a connection between children and the tourist railroad. This is one of the factors that will cause childeren to become interested in railroading. When some of these childeren become older they may become part of the preservation community.I was wondering if any other tourist railroads or museums use public relation tools such as a mascot to attract a new generation of preservationists. The most well know would probably be Strausburg's Thomas the Tank Engine. What are your views on this?Lehigh<>George

Funny, I don't associate Thomas with Strasburg but with HIT Entertainment. I think Linn and Kelly are Strasburg's public faces, at least I look for them if I go there. They seem like they wouldn't scare kids off either, besides doing really great shop work. SAM Shortline down in Georgia Peanut country missed out on the opportunity to use Jimmy Carter as a mascot and have developed a drawing of an engineer type character called Sam (see a pattern forming?) but as a drawing he doesn't do much but pose on printed matter. dave

Not exactly a mascot, but we see occasional appearances by a puppet dressed completely in conductors garb, expertly manipulated and handled by one of our members. Always a big hit with the kids - large and small. About 2 feet tall or maybe Charlie McCarthy sized.Perhaps you have met him - "Ray L Rhodes"Bob KutellaIllinois Railway Museum