We operate the MNGRR in Portland ME and have in the past offered Guest Engineer Programs. These involve allowing a non-licensed person to open and close the throttle and operate the reversing lever under constant and close supervision of the licensed operator. We have had a long and incident free history of offering this program.

This year all underwriters (down to 2 I'm told) who write tourist railroad insurance have refused to insure this program. Any other tourist railroad in the same situation?

Somehow, I'm not surprised.

1. I've never been a big fan of "guest engineer" programs because if something happens, you're screwed, even if you have someone supervising.

2. Insurance companies are... well, I'll tone down what I was about to say, but they're in business to make money.

Here's a funny related story I heard during my brief employment with Sperry Rail Service:

Some Sperry car crew was testing out in the middle of nowhere back in the days before direct deposit, debit cards, etc. They had their paychecks but nobody would cash them. The guys were getting a little desperate because they were about out of food. Then the railroad parked them on a mile-long side track for the weekend. There was a fairly busy road crossing right at one end of it. Inspiration hit.

The Chief cut up an old cardboard box and got a marker. He rigged up a sign -- "Ride the Sperry car $5! DRIVE the Sperry car $20!" They set the sign next to the road, and were soon doing a land office business going back and forth on that mile-long siding all weekend. At the end of the day on Sunday, they hitched a ride into the nearest town with one of their last customers and hit the grocery store. End of problem.

UNTIL...

One of the foamers who paid his $20 to drive the Sperry car was the conscientious type. He liked to thank people for positive experiences. So, he wrote Sperry a glowing letter, saying what a good time he'd had, how friendly the crew had been, what a wonderful program they had letting people drive the Sperry car, etc. etc. etc.

Needless to say, the reaction in Danbury required repairs to the roof of the offices.

Orange Empire Railway Museum just had something about their program in their last newsletter, apparently still going successfully. They might be a good contact for information. I hope these programs are able to continue, as they satisfy a visceral need for many ( the desire to become an engineer is really the root of why we take photos, build models and collect tons of useless junk related to trains), plus they bring in good income for preservation organizations.

Perhaps if membership is included in the charges, and it is considered as part of a training and qualification program?

Never ceases to amuse me how companies willing to insure any idiot with a drivers license to wreak havoc in public traffic won't cover insular operating under qualified oversight.

dave

It's actually simple to understand, Dave, if you think about it. All those "loose steering wheel nuts" out there would probably only kill one or two people in a worst case scenario. Your average driver with a bad driving record generally has no assets to speak of, and carries only the state minimum required liability insurance. (about $70,000 total in most states). The insurance company is only on the hook for the face value of the policy, and since there are no valuable assets involved, the sharks, er lawyers stay pretty much at bay. Museums and tourist railroads have assets that appear, at least to the uninitiated, to be valuable. Lawyers involved, risk of big payoff. (I work in the insurance industry)

There is now at least one company writing insurance for these types of programs. Check with your broker.