Outside of Tea grants, what methods have been the most successful in recent years? Has anyone come up with something creative that really worked? I ask because I see a group out west has challenged itself to raise $360k for a 2-8-2T and my own group at NCTM is setting out for about $400k to redo BC&G 4. We've got our usual avenues, but what else works this day and age? I don't like to leave any stone unturned. Jim

Jim -

1. Day Out with Thomas
2. Specials involving Santa Claus and the North Pole
3. Philantropists
4. Begging

Remember the Golden Rule: If you want to make a small fortune, start with a large fortune and buy a steam locomotive.

If you're a bona fide museum, I'd suggest going to corporations and offering to provide family cab rides and turn the entire museum over to the company for a private open house, complete with buffet dinners and personnel on hand to act as chaperones and guides. Assuming a company can write it off as a tax donation, they might like the unique nature of such a "family" event for the employees. They get their people out in a family values R&R setting, the kids get to ride on a train, the Dad's get to talk machinery, and the Mom's get to have a nice evening out without dishes and fussing.

Be aware that you have to have something to share and sjow; something for people to do. You need an active museum with an active program of rides, events, and "please touch!" exhibits. If you are a bunch of stodgy old men who want to relive your childhood, nobody wants to attend in the first place. I would say work up something to offer various companies, be sure you have the ability to pull it off, and then hit them for $10K. Present your plan by putting together a brochure and meeting the company execs in person. This is business, not personal.

CSRM received support from UP for the operating restoration of 0-6-0 4466 and support from Granite Rock Company for the operating restoration of Granite Rock No. 10, Porter 1942 0-6-0ST.

This English group has some interesting ideas about making the locomotive available to support the corporate sponsor's PR, corporate events, and staff retreats (day on the footplate for sponsor staff, etc):

http://www.telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/5619appeal.shtml

Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec got a locomotive grant from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation (I think a friends board member may have worked at LANL?).

I still like the idea of a "Millionaire's Party" The local athletic association does this once a year to support athletic programs at the high school. They sell 1,000 tickets at $100 a ticket, and they always sell out. For your ticket 2 people are admitted to the party, all you can eat and drink for 5 hours on a Sunday afternoon in June. At the party you can play BlackJack, Poker, Roullette, and other games. During the party they draw numbers, every tenth number drawn wins $100. There's also a $5,000 and $10,000 prize, and a Grand Prize of $20,000. Volunteers who work the party can buy tickets to it. They get a special permit from the state gaming board. They usually net well over $50,000. Who wouldn't like to support rail preservation and have a blast doing it, maybe even winning some money while you're at it?

Check your states gaming laws. One state to the south of Marty a program like that is very Illegal. Some states are very anti-gambleing! In the state of Ohio simple Vegas night has enough strings attached to knit a few sweaters.