Lets start our Own Musuem

[bnsfkline]

With the retierment of the F40C's, this led me to beleive that maybe WE, the Forum Members of Trains.com, with the help and support of Trains Magazine, to start our Own Musuem. I know of Several Places around here that have dead and stored Locomotives.
Metro East Industries have GP38-2's, GP20's, GP9's, old GE's, Whitcombs, NRE has a MKT RS3M, MKT Slug, several old ICG early units, and other oddities, Maybe we can work some thing out, If anyone wants to buy an F40C, contact
Metro East Industries Inc
PO Box 3220 , Fairview Heights IL 62208-3220
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Thats all for know!

[Mookie]

I can barely afford lunch at the Diner....sorry!

Moo

[wcfan4ever]

Where would we even begin somethine like that? Finding the property is not the problem, it is building something and then getting stuff to put in a building. The cost of something like this is way out of my league.

[Anonymous]

Not a very practical idea. The forum membership is spread far and wide around the world, and Kalmbach is a publishing company and probably does not have the resources or desire to enter in to any museum business. They are basically money pits, you know.

If you want to get involved, become a member of one of the many railroad related museums in the country. You can spend your vacations at the museum cleaning and painting. They always need help like that to free up the skilled people to repair and maintain the equipment. If you have some skills that would be of particular use, so much the better.

Good Luck!

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dgwicks

If you want to get involved, become a member of one of the many railroad related museums in the country. You can spend your vacations at the museum cleaning and painting. They always need help like that to free up the skilled people to repair and maintain the equipment. If you have some skills that would be of particular use, so much the better.

I'll second that. I've been to local RR museums that needed all the help they could get. Many have a showpiece or two, but if you look out back, or in the warehouse, you'll find other treasures slowly rotting away, waiting for someone to breathe some life into them.

I'm busy enough as it is, but if I had the time, there are several museums and the like within a decent drive that I could easily work with. Check for an NHRS chapter in your area, too.

[MP57313]

Agree with above suggestions. Rather than starting a new museum (there are plenty), join up with an existing one and see what it's all about. As with anything like this there's a lot of administration work that needs to go on. Even if you only have static displays there are insurance concerns.

For example, were you thinking of having visitors crawl all over the equipment? Even if you just allow them in the cab, there is an insurance risk. Were you planning on having a food stand? Health inspection (vending machines easier). If you plan to operate equipment, insurance rates climb way up there.

You would also need to consider local zoning laws. If you are in a built up area, you need to consider security (vandalism)

MP

[Anonymous]

I have a strict rule. I no longer join museums. I'd rather send a check (when I can afford it). Serving at museums tends to get to be legal work WAY too fast. I don't have the time or capacity to handle it as I have "gone railroading"...

LC