Museum Or Tourist Railroad Or...
THE MODERN RAILWAY preservation move- ment has grown and matured over the last 50 years to include a number of diverse op- erations all across the country. Everything from whole preserved railroads to static dis- plays of equipment stuffed and mounted in the local park can be found in towns large and small. Organizations of all sizes share the same struggles to generate funds for op- erations and maintenance, as well finding new ways to keep the public engaged to earn their trust and support. While these groups are caught up in the ongoing battles against rust and fatigue, sometimes they lose sight of their goals. Why do your volunteers give up so many of their weekends (and week- days) to help out? Sometimes it helps to take a step back and answer that question to help focus your group effort at every level. Not every organization with a few old
trains in their backyard is a museum. Think of some of the popular attractions around the country like the Strasburg Rail Road, or the Durango & Silverton, or the Napa Valley Wine Train, all of which happen to use vin- tage equipment in their operations, but are not museums. Yet, there are some museums that also offer train rides as part of their program. Don’t forget the organizations that don’t own any trains or have a physical loca-
Nevada Sta
tion to call home, yet are still successful in their own right. Because there are so many different types of preservation groups with varied goals, it’s easy to have the lines blurred. For our purposes, we’re going to talk about two groups specifically: museums and so-called “tourist railroads.” Museums have a responsibility to edu-
cate, first and foremost. According to most definitions, a museum is any organization that cares for and preserves a collection of artifacts of some historical or cultural signif- icance, and makes them available for public viewing and enjoyment. Railroads certainly fit that criteria! From the hallowed halls of Steamtown, to the local depot crammed with old lanterns, timetables, and photographs, we have seen them all. However, a museum is more than just a warehouse full of arti- facts, and while some rusty old trains may be fascinating to you and me, to the general pub- lic they are little more than junkyard fodder. What has blurred the lines between many
tourist railroads and museums lately is the trend towards creating more “authentic” ex- periences for the public. As we become in- creasingly “isolated” and have less regular contact with the railroads, many tourist lines look to turn back the clock and outfit their trains appropriately in an effort to
tate Railroad lroad Museum July 4-6 201ly 4-6, 2014
See wood-burning 1875 locomotives under steam!
View unveiling of the restored
1875 narrow-gauge wood-burner Glenbrook, pictured below!
Ride historic Virginia &
Truckee R. R. equipment!
(775) 687-6953
museums.nevadaculture.org
museum nevadacultur
Facebook.com/NSRMCC
2180 South Carso n Street Carson City, NV 89701 Thursday-Mon day 9-5
2180 South Carso Carson City
Thursday-Monday 9-5 Street
www.railfan.com/digital 8 APRIL 2014 •
RAILFAN.COM
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