A further topic diverging from the topics below on steam loco restoration:

There are several operations that come to mind--the B&O Museum, for one--that has as its sole operable steam locomotive a little engine among giants.

In answering the "You Oughta" crowd, does anyone ever "make apologies" that all they have running is a little 0-4-0T or 0-6-0 when there are lots of stuffed "thoroughbreds" about?

I just considered that, if I were approached by a friend or visitor who asked about the severe discrepancy, I would explain in several analogies: The little lokie gets to show off and make noise while hauling three cars behind a Pacific would be little more than clickety-clack; We can show you the operation just as easily with a go-kart that gets 50 miles to the gallon as the monster truck that burns 2 gallons a mile; The cost of your ticket to ride would double (or we'd have to add $XX per ticket to run the steamer you want), etc.

But always preface your replies with "We'd love to do it as much as you would, from a heartfelt sense, but........." Doling out "excuses" amounts to implying that you're somehow in the wrong for not doing it; explaining rationales instead is educating the patrons.

Few operations have the railroad necessary to accurately protray mainline railroading for their interpretive program.

Many more can do soething akin to banch line or industrial railroading.

More have only yard trackage with maybe an industrial lead?

Using the right locomotive for the required service is part of railroad history, and is reflected in the broad diversity of steam types. Unlike diesel electrics, you can't just MU a batch of them together until you have the power characteristics you need, or change the gear ratios to get different speed / power ratios out of the same model.

Apologies? I don't think so - just say that the engine that is running is the one best suited for the work being done.

dave

Yes and no.

A little 0-4-0T is perfect for the Pioneer Tunnel coal mine in Ashland, Pa. or the Middleton Railway in England. It's not the best thing to show off "The B&O" or mainline railroading to the B&O Museum crowd or the Strasburg or the National Railroad Museum; they're not shoving freight cars down the industrial street trackage or switching cars, but supposedly providing a passenger ride behind steam. Are you providing "living history" or a display of railroad technology over the ages? It's possible to do both, but the message sometimes gets muddied, as I believe it does at some locations.

It's all about the context. And you can produce a context that makes sense for what you have to work with. Just don't provide three conflicting contexts.

deleted for repitition - sorry

A bit lost here Sandy - I agree with conflicting contexts, but since when did B&O Museum begin to offer mainline passenger steam experience to their visitors? Where would they propose to furnish it? Off the top of my head, only Steamtown, Tennessee Valley and Grand Canyon offer that sort of experience on a regular frequent basis - apologies if I inadvertantly missed somebody.

Perhaps I do not understand the question. If what is offered is a demonstration ride behind steam in a small museum yard, why wouldn't a yardgoat be appropriate? If you don't have a railroad to run mainline steam passenger trains on, you wouldn't tell the public you did, would you? That would raise expectations that couldn't be fulfilled, which would be justifiable provocation for complaints.

Strasburg does the branchline thing nicely, never been to NRM in the USA. I don't think general public passengers at Strasburg would be disappointed to find themselves riding behind the 0-6-0 instead of 90.

Maybe my perception of what expectations are isn't what people who haven't worked in the industry for a long time perceive them to be, but i think so long as the expectations raised are fulfilled, no apologies should be necessary. I also think anybody misrepresenting themselves and raising expectations they can't fulfill are setting themselves up for a lot of trouble.

dave

Sometimes there is a "PLAN" for the type of operation we all want somewhere in the future. At IRM we have run the 2-10-0 for almost three decades (down this year for maintenance), {as well as the shay, a 2-6-2 and two 0-6-0's in previous years}; have run steam, diesel and electric freight trains of 23 cars with only ONE caboose; and this year managed a five car MU train of North Shore electrics all running, none cut out.

So do not dismiss any operation, as most preservation sites have plans and dreams to grow and expand. When IRM moved to Union "ONLY" forty years ago there were fewer than 40 cars, none of the 12 yards, no buildings and NO track to run on.

But IT CAN BE DONE with dedicated volunteers, a vision, and a lot of hard work. Presenting the vision to visitors can garner support without apologizing for any shortfalls.

Bob Kutella

I like the 'right engine for the right job' idea, as put forward by Dave. Going back to Sandy's first post about little engines making more noise than large ones, go listen to the Cagney at Strasburg sometime. In proportion, it seems to be working harder than the 475 or 90. Interesting topic-