The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum is seeking an Executive Director. The specific announcement is in the classified section of RYPN.

We have not done this in about 7 years, wish us luck!

I'm ready for the job!

C.

Then you should apply!

Brian

Check your inbox!

-Chris

What does it pay?

Nix the move to Gray?

Well, after reading the job description and harking back to a lengthy discussion that took place on this very forum just a few weeks ago, I don't think there are too many readers/commenters here who meet the qualifications. I spent a good chunk of my career as a professional railroad manager -- I know how to run trains, fix track and equipment and manage employees, but I never had to concern myself with fund-raising or grant-writing or schmoozing with potential big-dollar donors. I know it sounds like fun, but becoming executive director of a railway museum doesn't mean you just play with trains for a living! Best of luck to whomever is the successful candidate.

Terry-

Very good question! That supposedly was decided upon about two years ago but seems to be nothing on the website about it. Did they decide to remain in Portland?

Les

To answer various questions all at once.

Richard - What does it pay: Competitive with similar sized nonprofits in the area.

Terry and Les - Move to Gray: No one believed us when we said it was not going to happen quickly. We have to raise serious money. The uncertainty of our tenure in Portland is still the driving issue.

G.W. - job description. Amen, brother! It is the volunteers who get to play with trains. In 10 years I have worked with 4 EDs, none of whom knew diddly-squat about railroads when they started. They all came with extensive management, nonprofit or museum experience. In my own case I have moved from running trains to running Excel workbooks and trying to find a replacement for an incredible young woman.

Brian, Its not that I expect it to happen immediately - I am hoping it won't happen at all! Poor location with zero appeal to the public (other than a town government that wants a tourist attraction) with absolutely zero historic context with a right-of-way that features a strip mall, a scrapyard and a boggy meadow=death of what could be a great organization and collection.

The collection and volunteers deserve a much better fate.

Terry,

The bottom line is that our tenancy in Portland is month-to-month for the museum, engine house, yard, and parking. Our landlord will only sell the whole parcel, and several potential purchasers have wandered through. Our home is going to become waterfront condos once the economy improves. Location, location, location.

The ROW where we operate is a separate deal. We lease that from the State, and it is 26 feet wide by 1.5 miles long. No shops, no bathrooms, no storage space, etc.

There is one possible site along the State ROW which is owned by the City. We met with the City and they were unwilling to sell or lease the land to us. It is being held as part of the Maine State Pier development project, and they want to sell to a developer. The City did say they would work with any developer to see if they could work us into their project. When will this happen? No one knows, perhaps when the economy improves.

My suspicion is that the City does not want to sell to a nonprofit since we would not pay property taxes. So we and our 32,000 visitors will go away.

There have been many discussions on RYPN over the years about the necessity of railroad museums owning their own land. That is what we are working towards. It appears that can never happen in Portland.

Brian

Become a developer and include yourselves in your project. That implies a partnership with your own for profit....design the development as a nostalgic Maine seaport with docks, lofts, wooden walks, Victorian or Gothic cottages and shared common space rather than big houses with large back yards or high rise condos. Build 1880 with modern utilities, WiFi and energy efficiency.

dave

Dave, this is an excellent idea. I've often thought that a solid way to have a reliable source of revenue for preservation efforts is to have a commercial enterprise that utilizes similar skill sets. Industrial service (pipeline repair, refinery service, power generation, etc.) is a fairly recession proof market. If a business could be started and cultivated to a going concern then the profits from the commercial side can go to support the preservation effort.

Sorry to hijack this topic, but in this case I couldn't resist.

From what you're saying, Brian, it sound like Job No. 1 for the new executive director is to find a new home for the Maine Narrow Gauge and a way to pay for it. Whether it's a new model for railway preservation per Dave's great idea or whether it's a plot of land outside the city environs remains to be seen. Secondary to that task, it may fall to the new leader to develop a plan to rationalize the collection to a more manageable size.

Well, you are hiring an ED anyhow, might as well hire somebody who can develop the property to support the business rather than a railroader since you already have railroaders who work for free.

All you need is somebody with cred and connections who can build a vision capable of attracting lots of OPM and running its use to provide a payback.

dave