Ladies and gentelman, This conversation is all well and good, except... what are we talking about? The best museum or tourist railway to whom... to others in this industry, fans, the general public? And even comparing museums to tourist lines can sometimes be comparing apples and oranges. I think you need to determine some qualifications first before you can decide who is "best". As a personal opinion, You really need to break this down into catagories first and by who's standards second, i.e. museum/touris railway volunteers/professionals vs. the general public. I think you will end up with a vastly different conclusion.

I think Jim was originally asking for sub-components--specific exhibits or special distinct experiences--not for the overall "best in show" in any general way. I agree, refining it into interpretation, preservation, for the fan, for the general public, etc would generate a host of different answers and perspectives.


eledbetter@rypn.org

> I think Jim was originally asking for
> sub-components--specific exhibits or special
> distinct experiences--not for the overall
> "best in show" in any general way.
> I agree, refining it into interpretation,
> preservation, for the fan, for the general
> public, etc would generate a host of
> different answers and perspectives.

Erik,

More than that. I think this is what many museum and tourist lines need to be looking at. What I have learned form being in the preservation movement for nearly 40 years is that you have something to learn from everyone else and even more to learn from what the general public thinks and does. There is not an operator anywhere that can't improve, just by looking around even in their own neighborhood, city, county, state and/or province at what works and what does not.

J.

Good points, all. I did not know about the shop tour; that would make it worth the visit.

Somehow, though, for me, there was a bit of a disconnect between what was being done, and what was being shown; the idea of going off-season also has its merits. Certainly, the place seemed to be humming with tourists the two times I have been there.

What I don't want to do is to criticise, as obviously my interests are not what 99.99% of the visitors wish - and their success speaks for itself. And, if they have implemented shop tours, then they have listened to people like me already.

Oh - and Steam and Disney; I challenge anyone to take their kids to EuroDisney Paris 4 or 5 times, and watch their (very impressive) set of steam locomotives chug around, while "Disney Classics" softly waft from the speakers hidden in the plastic plants. That will warp *anyones* mind.


John Stewart
Ottawa, Canada.

> To each his own, I guess. But this living
> recreation of a 1910-era flyer is about as
> close as I've ever come to a time
> machine--not what I think of when I think of
> Dinsey.


freewrl-1@rogers.com

For hard working steam Cass is hard to beat.
This is especially true when home road shays 4 and 5 are doubleheaded.

jhbohon@yahoo.com

> (BTW, who else out there is trying to visit
> all the listings in the Steam Passenger
> Directory?) jim

Jim, I've been trying to that for 25 years now. I don't think I'll ever make it. Some operations close before I can get to them, and other operations are starting up. Along the same lines, who keeps their old SPD's and goes back and reads them occasionally?

But some of the best operations in my opinion - The Royal Gorge - top-notch scenery along with great people.

The Redwood Valley Railway - a beautiful recreation of a narrow gauge railroad in 5" scale/15" gauge.

The B&O museum was the closest thing to an American Railroad Cathedral. Let's hope they can restore the roundhouse.

And of course, don't forget the Huckleberry Railroad, with their collection of wooden narrow gauge coaches and that pretty Baldwin Ten-Wheeler. Also, with a reverse loop at each end they're always heading where they're going!


Martyhuck@aol.com

In my opinion the best time to visit the Strasburg area is a Christmas. The air is cold and the walk over from the Red caboose Hotel is brisk, the steam on the locomotive looks good! The off-season rates are better and there is nobody in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania except the staff and all those wonderful steam locos.

There is not the gritty feel of Chama, but where else can you ride behind steam in the winter.

ted_miles@nps.gov

> There is not the gritty feel of Chama, but
> where else can you ride behind steam in the
> winter.

Durango and New Hope in recent years...


eledbetter@rypn.org

what we are seeing in this thread is why we do not nor should not have a National Railroad Museum in the european style in this country. The Santa Fe in the Southwest, the D&RGW in the Colorado Rockies, the FEC in Florida, the Pennsylvania RR under wire, the Chicago metro area, the Maine Narrow Gauge short lines are as different as they can be and share two pieces of steel rail.

The places that preserve them are as different also, Professional museums, volunteer museums, large tourist lines and small ones. small town depots,large city shopping center stations. They all make this subject so very interesting! We all have our favorites; if they are non-profit, I hope you write a check for them once in a while. I do and I work for a museum too!

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

...and Roaring Camp. Instead of snow, one could enjoy the sand at the Santa Cruz beaches less than 15 minutes away!