Hi Everyone,

I was wondering why the rail preservation movement doesn't have a congressional lobbey? As a whole, I think we would benefit from it. From what I understand, the rails-to-trails movement has a pretty successful one.

Just curious,

Stuart

Mid-South Rail Heritage Foundation
gnufe@apex.net

> Hi Everyone,

> I was wondering why the rail preservation
> movement doesn't have a congressional
> lobbey? As a whole, I think we would benefit
> from it. From what I understand, the
> rails-to-trails movement has a pretty
> successful one.

> Just curious,

> Stuart

Stuart, you must be new to RR preservation so welcome. There's a couple of reasons:

1.) Too much fun to criticize each other's real or perceived deficiencies

2.) Too many participants would rather be a big fish in a little pond.

3.) Absolutely way too many high ego participants who'd rather be in charge than be effective.

That having been said, there are plenty of smart, personable folks among traveling amidst the foamers and wannabees.. Stay w/ it.

Stuart,

The movement is still young and just barely starting to think in more than project by project or at most regional terms. If another TEA-21 comes down with a preservation element that could change.

Remember too that a National Railroad Museum that follows the European model is not practical in this country. we have a series of good regional museums that do the same job without national funding. Imagine putting a Maine narrow gauge, an Illinois Interurban, an Santa Fe Streamliner, a Colorado mountain narrow gauge and a Pacific Coast Shay logging engine all together?

The maritime museums (such as my own) have learned about regional organizations being more practical and better, Rail should also.

Just one man's opinion. Ted Miles

ted_miles@NPS.gov

> Hi Everyone,

> I was wondering why the rail preservation
> movement doesn't have a congressional
> lobbey? As a whole, I think we would benefit
> from it. From what I understand, the
> rails-to-trails movement has a pretty
> successful one.

> Just curious,

> Stuart

Actually, through such professional organisations as the Association of Railway Museums and TRAIN (Tourist Railway Association INc.) we do have representation in Washington. If your museum is not a member of either, I suggest the museum join. ARM may be found at: http://www.railwaymuseums.org/ and TRAIN at http://www.train.org/

The Electric City Trolley Museum Association

The answer is part funding, part location, and part time. To have a lobbyist costs money and the person needs to know the industry and have the time to study legislation, regulations, etc and then talk with the legislators, etc. TRAIN has an attorney in the DC area that at times serves as a lobbyist.

To have a full-time presence either one of ARM or TRAIN (or both) needs to increase its income to be able to fund a full-time lobbyist. If you have suggestions how this can be done please let us (either ARM or TRAIN) know.

Both ARM and TRAIN have representation to a FRA rail safety advisory group that also has railroad and union representation. This representation was utilized during the period when the new Steam Engine boiler regulations were being developed and approved.

Brian Norden
member, ARM Board of Directors

> Actually, through such professional
> organisations as the Association of Railway
> Museums and TRAIN (Tourist Railway
> Association INc.) we do have representation
> in Washington. If your museum is not a
> member of either, I suggest the museum join.
> ARM may be found at:
> http://www.railwaymuseums.org/ and TRAIN at
> http://www.train.org/


bnorden49@earthlink.net

> Hi Everyone,

> I was wondering why the rail preservation
> movement doesn't have a congressional
> lobbey? As a whole, I think we would benefit
> from it. From what I understand, the
> rails-to-trails movement has a pretty
> successful one.

> Just curious,

> Stuart

The two most compelling reasons that rails-to-trails movmeent is as successful as it has been are as follows:

1. There are many times more r-t-t people than there are rail preservation people. Strength in numbers, you know. Compare the membership numbers (and dues income) of, say, the Nature Conservancy or the Sierra Club with the NRHS.

2. They have, and have access to, far more money than the rail preservation movement can even dream of at this stage. Money talks, and facilitiates lobbying efforts.

There is also a lot of crossover and close cooperation between the r-t-t peopl and other large, well-financed environmental and tree-hugger groups. These various groups seem to have little trouble rallying together around a cause.
That is a HUGE contrast to the contentious world of rail preservation and it's many cliques and groups that seem more interested in warring with each other.

> That is a HUGE contrast to the contentious
> world of rail preservation and it's many
> cliques and groups that seem more interested
> in warring with each other.

Z man -

do you think we will ever grow up?

JimLundquist55@yahoo.com