Just as a matter of interest, here are some "early in the season" reports and the results do not look very good so far, it appears a lot of people are giving up on travel vacations this year:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/ ... 1-17-07-57

I don't know whether the website keeps the stories posted indefinitely, so the link may eventually expire.

PC

Actually, this might be good for some museums where people choose to visit local attractions closer to home. Not good for those coming from long distances. Perhaps the marketing should be aimed locally this year.

-Jim Herron

That's what will keep these museums with a good number of visitors and ridership. That is unless people start buying more Toyotas

There was another news story this morning that said that AAA is seeing a very significant increase in the number of motorists running out of gas. That is also a very good indicator that the cost of fuel is influencing peoples behavior, they have reached the point where there is going to be a cutback in activities. If your museum is close to a major metro area, that might help attendance, but it probably is bad news if your museum is a long drive from centers of population.

PC

It is certainly true that high gas prices will limit long trips. But the larger problem is that high gas prices are going to cut peoples' spending on everything that is non-essential, including short car trips and recreational activities.

OTOH, here's an opportunity to partner with other groups to produce inexpensive events to draw in your local market. Maybe the family that isn't interested in visiting for just a train ride or to read some history written on the wall will come to ride a train and see a lot of antique cars, interact with craftsmen doing historic handwork, eat cuisine representing locally prominent ethnic groups cultures.....or whatever else you can pull together to create a vibrant days entertainment that will have broad appeal in your area, priced affordably for families who are hoping to find anything aforodable and interesting to do close by.

dave

Ever hear the word "manifest" (verb)? It means to believe something strong enough that it actually happens. You think it's new-age mumbo jumbo, "loaves and fishes"... no, it's real.

It's real because people make decisions based on their beliefs, and their decisions CAUSE their beliefs to manifest. The bad decisions lead to the bad outcome you expected, and it seems like you were correct. People really like being correct, and are very emotionally attached to being correct. So they "need to see it that way".

Here, you get into trouble by believing bad news over good news. That doesn't require being a defeatist; it just requires taking the TV news at face value, which is horribly slanted toward bad news. But if you believe that stuff, then you manifest it by making bad decisions.

The classic example is "It's the economy". A business takes to believing that, they will seek to pinch pennies. They will cut down on hours, operating days, publicity... all of which all by themselves have the effect of declining business, nevermind what the economy is doing. And the end result is exactly what you'd expect: Business goes down. And they go "see, I was right, it's the economy." Um no... if you scuttle your business out of fears of an economic downturn, it's NOT the economy stupid!

Same thing here. If you think high fuel prices will deter families driving an hour to your museum, well golly gee, that's what'll happen one way or the other, because you'll cut back publicity etc. But that's not the real reality of things. What high fuel prices do is cut back interstate travel. Mount Rushmore takes a serious hit. The local history museum does better. (all things being equal). This is a huge opportunity if you jump on it. Otherwise, someone else will eat your lunch.

For most of us -- we win with a poor economy or high fuel prices. The bottom line is: We're a cheap family outing.

Here is a couple ?'s I have with this...

On the one hand, with the struggling economy and the need to be as streamlined as possible, will some tourist roads be extending the window of diesel operation / shortening the amount of time on the calender that they use their steam engines to cut operating expense, crew costs, maintenance expense, etc.? Maybe cut backs on the number of weeks rides are even offered to save on fuel expense and labor. Or, is the thought more like diesel fuel is so high right now, lets run the steam engine even more than we normally would; even on freight runs? And, heck, you can't make any money if you aren't offering tickets for sale. Lets expand our schedule.

I'm sure a good case could be made for both thoughts and also for just sticking with your usual year after year menu.

The cost of fuel has to be hurting volunteer turnout as well. Have any groups cut back on their organized play dates / work parties due to this issue?

The year has started off well. The 765 event is selling well, and most of the pre-sales are out of state. We just ran our Easter trips today, and did very well. About 2/3s of the tickets were pre-sales, and most of them were within 3 hours of our location. We sold out both trains today.

As for normal operations, nothing has changed there.

Jason Annen
Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum
http://www.hoosiervalley.org/

I'm going to guess that the few all steam operations, like the Valley Railroad and Strasburg Railroad won't really be affected, as the main fuel that both companies use is coal.

I think you missed the point of Mr. Cook's post. Regardless of what VRR or SRR burns, the paying passengers that arrive at those, other museums, and other tourist railroads usually drive cars that burn gasoline. Thus, the higher gas prices may impact the numbers of visitors and riders to various RR-related attractions.

I forgot to consider that portion of the equation. If you can't get there, how can you ride the train?

For Years, I have used public transportation to visit museums. I also found sometimes it was cheaper to call a cab than to rent a car!(with a cell phone it's even easier) I just visited the OC&N railway in Newport, Rhode Island. Took the "Lake Shore Limited" to Boston. Then I joined a local railroad club the Mass Bay RRE on a bus charter to the trip!
My station wagon is just about always parked at the Amtrak train station.
There are many toursit trains near rail systems or bus systems or that connect with them. The other lines will just have to be written off, we will have alot more equipment scrapped. It's just a matter of time. By the way I have found two more ways to Newport not including a boat.

The driving season hasn't started yet. Now there's talk of $6 gas. You might have alot of no shows. (Sell the seats again, the airlines do it)
I hope I am able to join you, this year on one of your other trips. But I won't be driving the 500 miles between us. I will be useing Amtrak and the South Shore line to the South Bend airport station. Where I can rent a car to drive to North Judson. It will give me one trip to refuel the car before I return it.Instead of three or four enroute. What can be said about a country that puts trains in museums? With $6-20 gas coming!

They ought to be drilling for oil.