Reading the short thread from Dave below, I have to ask.. what the heck is going on @ steamtown? It was so promising!

When I was there last time, I saw almost nothing changed w/ regard to the locos. It seems like they got shuffled around, but not much was done. What's the point of reliving dieselization?

A buddy of mine told me the biggest problem is that they are strapped to some utility contract that was apparently negotiated by the $600.00 toliet seat folks. Is this true? I thought it was odd the roundhouse part was a perfect 70 degrees and even the backshop seemed warm. Quite a contrast to the museum is strasburg when i was there a few years back it was COLD!!!

I'd say if we cared enough we should all be writing to our rep and senator to ensure adequate funding but maybe that's not the problem. of if there's any noise @ all, who knows what wannabee would be possessed by the late bruce vento??

Oh well.. just thinking out loud

-Mike

Hello

You heard right on the heating contract. It has been/continues to be one of the biggest hurtles towards financial autonomy for the place.

As far as the equipment work goes, you are also correct, things do get shuffled around. For example I personally dropped the fire on Baldwin 26, the 0-6-0, in December of 1999. It was then left untouched for over 6 months. (Serious work has now just begun thanks to a grant allocation). The CN Mike is the same way, its been 95% finished since October of 2000. What remains are mostly cab appliances to be re-installed. However it has sat in the paint shop untouched for 6 months. Let me say that I'm not criticizing the shop workers at Steamtown, some are very good friends of mine. They are probably some of the most capable machnists and mechanics anywhere. It just happens that getting the locomotives back on the raod are not a budget priority.

The problem is the Park Service's management and budgetary philosophy. While it works fine other places, it just does not translate to an active railroad environment. This operation is a first for the NPS, that is actually using what are refered to as "historic structures" (ie. locomotives and cars), for operational purposes. Anywhere else structures and/or artifacts are restored or stablized, but seldom used (they don't ring the liberty bel you know), particularly on the scale of the mainline operation at Steamtown. The park service has little to no experience in maintaining operating historic equipment, countering wear and tear etc. This is not intended to be an insult, its just thy way they've managed resources for 80+ years.

Some budgetary facts. I once calculated (and I could off just a little) that somewhere around 75% of the park's operating budget is spent on employee saleries. Probably another 10% on site maintenance (ie cleaning bathrooms, picking up trash, changing light bulbs etc...) The remaining monies are split between that heating bill (quoted to me as over 650,000 per year) misc. items (like ticket printing, brocheurs) and whats left goes to equipment maintenance and restoration. This is only a very rough breakdown but it gives an idea of how things are done.

I am in no way insulting anyone or any management philosphy at Steamtown. The Park Service is a fine institution, that originally was not to keen on the idea of a railroad park, and is now perhaps in over its collective head. People who quit or retired are not replaced (for example the railroad operating department went from 11 in 1994 to 5 now). Many people have been let go recently due to a lack of funds and the equipment is just not getting the attention anymore. (Not that it is unsafe, what does run conforms to all current regulations). The days of 3 steam engines running at one time or double headers to the Poconos etc are gone. Unless the operating philosophy shifts, they may not be back again for a while either.

Steamtown was founded on the principle of being an operating museum, so people could see, smell and touch a bygone era of America's history. That principle has, if unofficially, slowly shifted towards making the site a more static environment. Good or bad thats how things are now, though I hope not forever. So I ask, please go, ride the trains, support this. Its not too late yet and it is still a great place to see steam, for now.

P.S. Sorry for any typos, the spell checker doesn't work on my steam era computer...

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