Yesterday, I took my family to Steamtown to see the place for myself, just because there were so many threads here about the place.

1.) The diesel, (I'd comment on that but its been done) had some mechanical problems. We had to be rescued by CP SD-40's. What is that all about?

2.) The CP 2317 sits without pony truck. An earlier thread said there was a problem in December. People, a pony truck should be repairable or replaceable by now. What the hell's been going on for 6 months?

3.) The BLW26 sits looking like half built Bowser model. I was informed it last ran Dec 99. There's no excuse for this. SOMETHING could've been done in 18 months other than pull it apart

The one operational steamer, the CN 3254 was down for a boiler wash. It seems to me Sunday would be one of your LAST choices to put down your centerpiece.

As we traversed from the roundhouse to tyhe backshop, there was newly laid concrete. I can't imagine how this became a priority. There's all kinds of new cars and SUVs everywhere. Its like people are fixing the frame and forgetting the picture

As you walk around, there's equipment all around the yard that is in horrible shape and can't even be moved because couplers are sagging. There's a burned out building in the back that looks like it'll fall down with the next heavy snow.

If this were a private enterprise, they'd at best be guilty of misleading advertising.

As far as I can see, whoever is responsible for keeping the equipment running isn't doing the job. There may be a shortage of money or something, buts its like a little kid was in there pulling stuff apart without knowing how to get it back together. Whoever is in charge of keeping stuff on the road needs some sort of discipline as does whoever spends money on the fleet of vehicles. How many vehicles do they possibly need?

Folks, I've seen other operations that do so much more with NONE of the massive backshop they have.

As far as I'm concerned, these people are wasting our money. Their mission is to restore, repair and operate steam engines and they are failing miserably.

There was also an earlier thread that suggested that there were individuals inside who are trying to derail the place. If so, they are winning.

Jeez, news isn't getting any better.
Terry Gess is retiring, interim superintenedent is in place (Kim somebody) and hopefully he can be become the permanent super. He is from Scranton....
We shall see..

Joshua

joshuakblay@hotmail.com

As a fairly recent government employee; I'll state: Welcome to the politics of government.

I expect to visit steamtown very soon; but lets remember:

1) government politics saved steamtown and its equipment when in Bellows Falls.

2) government involvement is always a double-edged sword.

Look at the good; try to help with the bad, but, always remember, there are invisible forces at work in any government institution that would make your head spin.

Personally, I ignore them, probably to my peril, and always try to look at the positive side of things.

When I go to steamtown in July, I'll be comparing it to the dump that was Bellows Falls.


john.stewart@crc.ca

> 1) government politics saved steamtown and
> its equipment when in Bellows Falls.

Not true. The private Steamtown Foundation made the move to Scranton in response to the then in place policy in Vermont of being anti-Tourism. Don Ball had a vision of what Steamtown was to be in Scranton before his untimely death. Congress McDade and others cooked up the idea of making Steamtown an NPS site as a way of saving it from the caretakers running the Steamtown Foundation after Don Ball.



njmidland@compuserve.com

Hello

To answer a few questions from above:

1. The CP diesels are part of a power/tonnage agreement by the DL railroad (who operates the tracks) and CP Rail. The power was CP, but it was a DL crew that came to the rescue before moving a loaded grain train.

2. The CN 3254 was scheduled for a boiler wash BEFORE her time was up during last week but was kept in service for a political social event (party) that Steamtown hosted Wednesday night. Rather than disappoint political figures by using a diesel, the decided to scrub steam runs on father's day.

Sad, isn't it.

bing@epix.net

> Hello

> To answer a few questions from above:

> 1. The CP diesels are part of a
> power/tonnage agreement by the DL railroad
> (who operates the tracks) and CP Rail. The
> power was CP, but it was a DL crew that came
> to the rescue before moving a loaded grain
> train.

> 2. The CN 3254 was scheduled for a boiler
> wash BEFORE her time was up during last week
> but was kept in service for a political
> social event (party) that Steamtown hosted
> Wednesday night. Rather than disappoint
> political figures by using a diesel, the
> decided to scrub steam runs on father's day.

> Sad, isn't it.

Actually, no. Sad is when an uncontrollable event ruins something. This was all controllable, so I classify what I saw and experienced as at best incompetence and at worst criminal.

I like looking at the positive too. There are many good things I can say about Steamtown and when more time becomes available next summer, I will be taking part in helping it operate by lending my time and hard work ethic. However, all the positive thinking in the world will not bring in more visitors. It will not fix fixable problems. Those folks that walk around with rose-colored glasses are do-nothings. They rather TALK about how great it is and give a thousand excuses why they are the way they are than talk about fixing the major problems that Steamtown is experiencing.

That was just one of the major problems the Pennsylvania Railroad had. Their management ignored problems and indulged in positive thinking. The PRR is now only found in the history books today not solely because of their poor management, but poor management can destroy any business as it is destroying Amtrak. Now Amtrak kept complaining that they needed more money. So they kept getting more money. Are they better today than thirty years ago? The government must not think so because Amtrak as less than two years to clean up its act before funding is totally cut.

No one here is talking about cutting all the funding to Steamtown, rather I would like to see it increased. ThatÂ’s right, increased. However, my point is, fix up the management and prevailing attitudes first before spending one more dime on the place. Would you keep taking your car to the same mechanic for the same problem? No, of course not. It he could not get it right the second time around, you might want to take your time and money somewhere else. I say lets get new ideas and management first and it will be in much better shape. Then the money will follow. One idea is inviting that Thomas the Tank Engine that Strasburg built for a week during the summer at Steamtown. Why not? Have they even considered that idea? I donÂ’t know but I do know wherever that little engine goes, attendance like 10,000, 12,000 and even 15,000 are common. Hey thatÂ’s a lot of visitors and money into a place just for one weekend or week. I know the railfans donÂ’t like that idea, but remember us railfans donÂ’t pay the bills for these places.

Regards,
Andrew

One idea is inviting that
> Thomas the Tank Engine that Strasburg built
> for a week during the summer at Steamtown.
I know
> the railfans donÂ’t like that idea, but
> remember us railfans donÂ’t pay the bills for
> these places.

Speak for yourself, Andrew. I LOVE Thomas! Not only does he provide revenue but he also introduces very young people into the fascinating world of steam railroading. We could use a few more such successful ambassadors.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> Speak for yourself, Andrew. I LOVE Thomas!
> Not only does he provide revenue but he also
> introduces very young people into the
> fascinating world of steam railroading. We
> could use a few more such successful
> ambassadors.

> Dave

Right on! You and a few others like myself grasp the all positive effects of something like Thomas. Now its the real thinking like Dave's that Steamtown could use.