At PSRM in Campo, CA, all our rolling stock is posted in the "Roster" section of our web site (psrm.org). The listings for most include a photo and some information about it. Unfortunately these entries aren't totally up to date, but because our site includes a "contact us" link, it certainly wouldn't be any problem for someone interested in a particular piece to e-mail us and find out. And, I've found if I Google a particular piece of rolling stock, say SP 2353, it pops up in the search results. Or if I Google something like "2-8-2T," our Coos Bay #11 pops up (along with several others of that wheel arrangement). So, it appears to me that if any group was to keep their roster posted on their web site, a person looking for a particular locomotive or type could find it.

I certainly can think of no reason not to list everything. And, certainly, that old rusty thing out in the "back 40" might be just what someone else needs.

Only playing "devil's advocate" here, and presenting you the "reasons" (or excuses) I've heard postulated:

1) That piece back there was a "parts donor" for your other GP9/S2/2-6-2, and you're just waiting for a chance to start cutting it up, yet because it's listed on your "roster" someone wants to come in and see it, or worst ride behind it, and they start bad-mouthing your place when they're told it's inaccessible or they see it looks like junk;

2) The lawsuit over who owns the item(s) and owes what storage/usage fees has been going on for two years now, and it's really there against your will. (Don't laugh--I've personally seen this happen at least four times that I'm aware of. and "repo men" don't work too well with railroad rolling stock, for some reason.)

3) If you publicize that hunk of junk back in the storage track, and it's obvious you're not going to polish it up, some other party, almost always with more ambition than resources, is going to get crazy ideas, and then react with hissy fits and tantrums when you explain that it can't be trucked out, no railroad will touch it, and they don't make helicopters powerful enough to lift it. (We're still trying to figure out whether PRR 4876 is ultimately the "poster child" for this syndrome.)

To a naysayer, all parties look like they have more ambitions than resources. The naysayer can make this a self-fulfilling prophecy by actively discouraging and subverting the willful volunteer. "Oh, yeah, I didn't order that paint. By the way, why isn't it painted yet? *rimshot*

"See, I knew you wouldn't follow through. Happens every single time with you types."

The key to good museum management is to direct their ambitions in useful ways. If you can do that, then it is only a boon for your organization to have it known that you have Unit X, which this fan happens to be in love with. Help him restore Unit X and have a good time doing it -- and maybe he'll stick around.

Gotta be a good idea. Post the roster, the ENTIRE roster but to ensure Joe Public doesn't show up looking for a ride behind 4012 at Steamtown or similar at every other museum, mark each line witha status. For example, operational, on display, under restoration, awaiting restoration, and (!) derelict. And perhaps if it were taken further, anything marked derelict could have notes to say whether it was to receive attention or to be sold, scrapped or used for parts.

I would like to see this made a major part of this board whether by links to the preservation group's web site or a seperate listing tacked on to RyPN. If that were the case it would be good to have a standard template to work with and just fill in the boxes. That way all information is presented in a similar, readable style.

I'm not particularly computer savvy but tell me how I can help.

Wes

This is one of the better equipment rosters I have seen in my opinion. Everything is listed and includes pics of most, including pieces they had at one point but are now gone (leased, sold, ect.). Some basic info on each piece, can be expanded if needed, and status. This allows anyone looking to see what became of a piece of equipment the info they need, for example: Gee, I rode behind GP18m #801 here years ago and where did it go? Oh, OK, it was a leased unit they had for a year.

http://www.lrhs.com/roster.htm

To solve the problem of "unintended consequences" of publishing the "entire equipment roster" of any organization and to support the process of preservation of critical, one-of-a-kind equipment, regardless of the ownership, I would suggest that we support the websites of historical societies for the specific railroads and for types of equipment with a simple roster:

Railroad (Fallen Flag)
Type: Locomotive, Passenger Car, Freight Car, MOW, Other
Number
Name (if applicable)
Owner (private if not wanting to disclose)
Location (County/State if not wanting to disclose)
Status: Preserved, Restoration Underway, Stored Protected, Stored Unprotected, At Risk
Available: Yes/No

That would at least give those of us who are working on preservation some information to work with and won't generate a throng of visitors to an individual museum looking for something that they are not prepared to show.

Craig Brinkman
www.arpcp.org