LOL! Depending on what he does, we have ways to control troublesome users. Since being a pest on the internet is much easier and cheaper than doing it via the US Mail, we have plenty of experience with Trolls, Flamers, Spammers and other annoyances. There are a variety of measures in place to deal with such folks, ranging from simply letting them play to blocking their access to the site.

Mid-Continent Railway Museum has also received many letters from this individual with identical wording each time, usually asking if any new cars or locomotives had been acquired. Interesting to learn Mid-Continent wasn't the only recipient. This guy certainly keeps busy.

He sounds mentally challenged. FWIW, I enjoy the lost art of writing letters but only one per person until a reply is received.

At the Rockhill Trolley Museum we have been getting these letters for some time as well, probably over 50, as I have actually started saving them. I have 30 here now in the corner of my desk. They are sent with a return address from Florida with a woman's name on the return address label and a mans name on the letter. They appear to be written by a person with shaky handwriting, perhaps an older person. I believe the most we got at one time was six.

The first few that we received I would always send a brochure and a personal letter, then a brochure and a newsletter, but I have not responded for quite some time. I often wondered the reasoning for multiple, duplicate letters. I included a fundraiser appeal on one mailing and we never heard anything back, but we continued to get the letters. We actually have not gotten any for a few months now.

Amazing that other museum have gotten what appear to be the same letter!

Would be curious to know the story on behind the letters. Who knows, the person may have a boxcar full of money to give away, You just never know.

Joel Salomon

Add the Whippany Railway Museum in NJ to the list as well. Like the other groups noted here, the Museum has been getting mail from this person for a good two years or so. And yes, sometimes they come in batches of 5 or 6 envelopes, or one or two each week. Then some weeks go by without anything. Could be due for another batch very soon. He has sent WRyM about at least 50 or more letters over time.

As mentioned by others above, the return address is in the name of a woman in Florida, and the letters are written by a male with a different name. He might be a young person, or someone with an illness. He apparently is very interested in the Museum's 4 ex-NJT Comet I coaches, and wants to know if the Museum will be "merging with NJT" (!) and if it will be "...acquiring any NJT electric locomotives to start operating passenger service." (sigh)

Since he did not have access to a computer, a print out of the page from the Museum website that gave a "history" of the WRyM Comet cars was mailed off to him...at least twice. Initial replies also included brochures, etc. It's now at the point of annoying, so when his letters show up...like nearly everyone else here... they end up in the trash, unanswered.

We got a 'business inquiry' like that of an individual wanting to start a railroad museum.

A little googling and searching discovered both the return address and the individual were in a state prison.

That's a good reason for not having a computer though.

It's bad enough when the "flakes" clog your mailbox (whether physical or electronic), what can really get old is when they visit your museum in person (usually with the help of a friend or relative with a car) and have to be watched so they don't hurt themselves or annoy paying customers.

I won't name where or when, but someone like that frequented a museum I used to go to on occasion when I was stationed nearby in the Army. Some grizzled old guy who's cheese had long ago slid off his pizza started showing up with a piece of paper with the museum's (badly rendered by him) logo and his name written on it, pinned to a crusty old sport's jacket that was too small for him. He pretended to be a guide and would round up unsuspecting visitors. I caught onto his act right away and stayed clear of him. I'd warn the real museum folks but I don't think they took me seriously. It came to a head one day when he yelled at me to join the "group" he said he was leading. I replied, "I know you're not with the museum, so go get stuffed," and walked away. A few others immediately detatched and went on their way, too. I went to the staff and again complained, with three other people on my heels to also complain. I last saw the guy being escorted off the property by police later. The last time I was there before I moved, they even had a warning sign out for the guy...

Wow, Lee's story sounds pretty bad! I'm sorry to say that I also have no doubt it's true... I've heard and seen some crazy stuff over the years.

On the other hand, sometimes (not always mind you, but sometimes) you can channel these folks energy and come up with an arrangement that's mutually beneficial.

For example, some folks excel at jobs that are boring and tedious. With proper guidance and supervision, they may be able to perform some useful tasks for your operation.

It takes patience and skill to work with some folks. But you may find somebody in your organization has a talent for that. Don't give up without exploring the possibilities.

I've seen someone acting similar to the individual Lee described...
Dressed up in overalls, with an engineers cap, a big ring of skeleton keys, and a (clean, unused, spotless) pair of work gloves in one hand, pretending to be a volunteer.....
He attempted to give walking tours, specializing in families with attractive young mothers, and no visible male parent.
When a few real volunteers and visitors complained about him to a museum officer, he was given STERN INSTRUCTIONS as to the potential consequences of his future behavior. I believe he was finally escorted off the property at some point.

JD

Along the same line, and semi related -- one local railfan group used to hold Friday night slide show get togethers in the basement of a church that also ran a homeless shelter in the same room.

On one cold night, one of the clients of the homeless shelter showed up a bit early and sat down and watched the program.

Because we were open to the public, we let him stay.

He also stayed the night.

True story

Bob H

RMNE has also been getting these for 4-5 years. They now get tossed. At first, we'd send a brochure or maybe a newsletter.

Howard P.

Gentle Forum Members,

"There but for the Grace of God go I."

I've had the pleasure of receiving letters from James for several years. I don't seem to get the 30 - 40 - 50 that some of you receive, but I get an occasional two or three in the same week or two.

My opinion is Delores is his mother, his grandmother or maybe his daughter. James has a friend. One who apparently reads to him, allot about railroads. When he asks a specific question I try to answer it, in a letter that many times I hand write and mail to him. I've put James on our mailing list for the Postboy and I make sure he gets one whenever we publish.

That's all. I believe he appreciates any mail that is sent to him. It is his world, and I like to think we may be able to brighten it for him - if just a little. We at the RMLI have many "special" people who come to visit, they have never been a problem to us. Some of the "normal" railfans are another story!

Best to you all,
Don Fisher, President

Railroad Museum of Long Island
http://www.rmli.org

i was watching old Ally McBeal episodes on netflix, and "asked and answered" is a term one guy said when he didnt want to answer the same question twice. LOL!! You are of no obligation to answer the same question twice.

However indeed the right thing to do is treat the correspondence as well intentioned and respond in kind. You don't know what his experience of life is. It might be a "fifty first dates" or "groundhog day", sort of thing where he does not realize he has sent so many. Clearly the guy is not intentionally harassing you, so to act like he is, is to "put on airs".

I would say "we have received many letters from you, our staff simply doesn't have time to reply to them all. We have already answered many of your questions but seeing that you have some new ones, we have answered in the margins of your letters, enclosed here." With any luck he will see this pile of letters and go omg I didn't realize I sent so many letters. But you are calling reality reality without being unkind.

Edited because wilkins says i'm not allowed to practice law on rypn.

"Asked and answered" is a legal objection, made by attorneys in legal proceedings, such as trial testimony or in deposition testimony, and thus has no relevance here in this situation. These organizations are under no obligation to even answer this author's first inquiry.

Robert, if I remember correctly, California is one of the few states that still lets you take the bar exam without having ever gone to law school. You should try that. Until then, pleas leave the legal terms of art to the professionals.

Back to your regularly scheduled topic in 3, 2, 1.....