A nice example of different museums getting together for common goals continues as a part of the Trolleyville equipment distribution. A story about swapping trucks between IRM and CT Trolley Museum, with others chipping in from Branford and Electric City, is documented on the Hicks Blog.
http://hickscarworks.blogspot.com/2010/06/tale-of-two-trucks.html

Sad that more museums don't cooperate to keep history alive.

Later!
Mr. Ed

I've discovered, in several attempts at inter-museum cooperation, that one philosophy has occasionally crept into the path of such cooperation: "professionalism"

Here's a rail museum board pre-"professionalism":
"You know, we got that caboose donated to us ten years ago, but it doesn't really fit our new mission profile, what with the other caboose we now have restored. The station museum over in the next county is looking for one of those very cabooses. Shall we let them have it if they raise the money to move it?" "All in favor?" "AYE!"

The same board post-"Professionalism":
"We have a proposal in writing here for the non-profit GH&I Station Group in Springfield to acquire our GH&I caboose."
"Do they have any comparable assets with which to trade to us? We are required by protocol to assure that we receive as much as we give out, or we are not functioning professionally."
"well......"
"And have they prepared a proper restoration plan forthright?"
"Ummm, I don't know, it just says they want to know if we can spare the caboose..."
"What about the considerations of the original donor? What are the specifications of the bequeathal?"
"Ummm, I'm not sure there were really any--"
"Have we issues a formal report on the appropriateness of deaccessioning this caboose? Don't we then need to issue a formal surplus deaccessioning inventory for review by the board, then publish said list to.................."

This runs both ways. "Professionalism" helps keep wanton and lackadaisical administration in check, but it also at times hampers otherwise sensible mutual cooperation.