I note a second Thomas event in Mebraska didn't do as well. Have other RR's experienced similar figures? Will Thomas events eventually turn out like model train shows, where the same (but fewer each time) faces visit the same tired display tables over and over?

http://www.fremontneb.com/articles/2003/06/10/news/news1.txt
ryarger@rypn.org

The thing about marketing a product like Thomas is that if it isn't kept before the public it goes "stale".

Want the Thomas outings to have more and newer faces? there's two things that need done.
1. New shows, or at least get the old ones back on the air.
2. new venues, or new exhibits at the existing venues.

Without those changes attendance will continue to slide.

OTOH One should probably ask is it really fair or reasonable to actually expect a little blue fictional tank engine to continue to "save" (financially) tourist rail operation all by himself?

> OTOH One should probably ask is it really
> fair or reasonable to actually expect a
> little blue fictional tank engine to
> continue to "save" (financially)
> tourist rail operation all by himself?

Should we all start planning for a hogwarts express ...any candidates, he asks Strasburg ???


lamontdc@adelphia.net

All I can say to that is if you want to try it, you'll have to go through Warner Brothers, and they filed a lawsuit against the railroad museum in England that has the actual locomotive from the movie - when they even tried to display it outside as a fundraiser. These guys may HIT! & Thomas look quite easygoing in comparison. Warner is VERY defensive about the copyrights here, so y'all make sure you're legal if you're even thinking about trying anything. Seriously. I'll also tell you you're way back in the long line that is thinking this way.

> Should we all start planning for a hogwarts
> express ...any candidates, he asks Strasburg
> ???


randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

> Should we all start planning for a hogwarts
> express ...any candidates, he asks Strasburg
> ???

Boothbay Railway Museum (Boothbay Maine) is having a "Harry Potter Day" with a Hogwarts Express either this upcoming weekend (June 14th) or the following (June 21st). I can't remember which weekend.

When I read it in the newspaper I couldn't imagine why they were doing it....but on reading these messages I think I understand why.

Unfortunately Boothbay's website doesn't have any information on this.

Boothbay Railway Village

I just hope they are completely legal with the copyrights and usage. I had the 'personal pleasure' of being with a VP of Disney Products once when she busted a nonlicensed distributor of Disney products in a major city shopping mall. She once played "Snow White" as a castmember, and turned on the female charm to get the store owner to 'fess up, in front of witnesses, to admit buying from unlicensed sources and actually call it a Disney store. The cutesy smile went flat, the entourage all fished out their official Disney business cards, they were notified that they would be hearing from legal, and the store was out of business in about a week later. Judging by what I've already seen in press releases about Harry Potter stuff, they are already cocked and loaded if anybody tries anything. You might make it under their radar, but boy, I sure can't recommend it.

randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

TVRM had a slight increase in DOWT attendance over last year. Gift shop sales were off but that may have been due to other factors.

G. Mark



TVRM Shop Updates by Steve Freer
aw90@comcast.net

It would make sense to me that DOWT events might have lower attendance in 2003 given three factors: the economy/unemployment, repeat venues and lower visibility of the actual media product (if only the movie had been better...).

I think the third factor may be the most important. DOWT relies upon an existing and engaged fan base. I don't beleive that the Thomas folks have been working hard enough at keeping him relevant.

As for dealing with WB and the Hogwarts, well... it will take an experienced business entourage on any museum's part, but I will suggest that a railroad which is able to time an event around the release of the next HP movie might stand chance of getting a one-time event approved. Think like a movie company and you can get them to move.

Promotions and events around trademarked properties can be made difficult by the rights holders. Sometimes, however, the difficulty is in establishing the benefits of the promotion far enough out to have time to put them on.

I am shocked that not a single NJ rail museum has announced a visit of the recently won Stanley Cup. The NHL seeks opportunities for the public to meet championship players and see the trophies. Tuck this in the back of your files if you live near an NHL city or have a local NHL player (since they get to bring the cup home).

The Cup will be all over this summer as players and coaches bring it home. This year, besides the obvious NJ connections, tourist railroad and museum towns that could schedule a cup event include Laconia, NH (Devils Coach Pat Burn's summer home), Cranbrook BC, Rochester NY, a handful in MN and upper MI, Montreal and more.

Heck, it is going to be a car collector's meet in Union, NJ tonight. If they can get it, there is no reason that a railroad museum couldn't.

And if you have ever gone to a cup event, you can attest for the crowds it draws.

Have great Father's Day weekend everyone! May your coaches be full!

Rob



trains@robertjohndavis.com

> And if you have ever gone to a cup event,
> you can attest for the crowds it draws.

> Have great Father's Day weekend everyone!
> May your coaches be full!

> Rob

Thats a whole new twist to the ball game ...howzzabout one Cleveland Browns player in each coach autographing tickets ...course this wouldn't go over big in P'burgh or Baltimore but it might work around Cleveland ???


lamontdc@adelphia.net

The way around this problem is to make it generic. The Hobo Railroad in NH is planning a "Wizards and Owls Express" this year. Anyone can figure out its all about the Harry Potter thing; but since they are not mentioning anything licenced its totally legal. Wizards and owls are very general terms, and I'm sure the kids won't notice the difference.

Not sure about New England - my ancestors burned witches there almost 400 years ago but we moved away and got better since, hope the area is more tolerant now. We couldn't do any such event in the South due to cultural interface problems with the fundamentalist snake-handling tongue-speaking lunatic fringe. They have risen up in vocal revolt, blocking traffic and making a very large stink, for less.

Please consider local cultural repercussions before investing in this sort of program.

That being said, best wishes and please do let us know how it goes. We need good ideas.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

about "the fundamentalist snake-handling tongue-speaking lunatic fringe"

Damn, I didn't think about snake-handling and tongue speaking for a special event...

Any how, keep yer wiss-ards and owls on a chain, ya here?

Wrinnbo@aol.com

This is what happened in England when they tried doing something "Harry Potter" based. Finally found the article. Anybody else hear anything beyond this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1731923.stm

Yeah, you might be able to get around it, and maybe you'll have to defend yourself, too. And this was a nonprofit museum, so there was certainly no sympathy vote.

> The way around this problem is to make it
> generic. The Hobo Railroad in NH is planning
> a "Wizards and Owls Express" this
> year. Anyone can figure out its all about
> the Harry Potter thing; but since they are
> not mentioning anything licenced its totally
> legal. Wizards and owls are very general
> terms, and I'm sure the kids won't notice
> the difference.


randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

Out here in Anaheim our Ducks coaches are full! Maybe next year.

wyld@sbcglobal.net

Just a tidbit related to Thomas...
The Green Mountain Railway, will be hosting it's first "Day out with Thomas" event. Is this the first freight operator to have a Thomas event?



http://www.vermontrailway.com/news_pages/news_05_23_03.html
SJHussar@aol.com