The last 2 RR museums I visited were on a trip to Northern Arizona. Mainly I wanted to ride the Grand Canyou RR and the Verde Canyon RR. Both had small one room museums as a sideline to the ride. I went to AZ mainly to tour the area, but made time to ride the tourist lines. I also stayed at the Posada, the old Fred Harvey hotel adjacent to the Windslow station and the Transcon. The restored hotel was like staying over night in a museum.
The last major RR museum I went to was Steamtown NHP. I went there as part of the Scranton 2010 NRHS Convention. On the drive there, I made a 20 mile detour off of I-80 to visit the Greenville (PA) RR museum (and also to try to see the B&LE roundhouse, which remained obscured). I have an interest in mineral hauling RRs.
Generally, what interests me in a museum: a train ride that I want to take; a museum theme (RR, locale, etc) I am interested in; or a major museum such as the National Transport Museum, St. Louis.
A life long love of trains.
My favorites are the California State Railway Museum in Sacramento; the B&O Museum in Balitmore; and the Railroaders Memorial Meuseum in Altoona. I am not sure that these are the correct names, but they are close.
Agree very much with Bartman.
Special events like Thomas and holiday specials are important because they will bring in the families. When the families are not there, the museum still must function, and that's when I become more important as a customer of the museum. I'm looking for specific items of importance to me.
I like a museum that has a focus. Examples are the RR Museum of PA, which focuses pretty consistently on items built and/or operated in PA; or the California State operation in Sacramento, which has a similar focus on California (with a bit of excusable attention to Nevada). I am not nearly as impressed with a museum that tries to indiscriminantly present all things on rails. Several years ago there was an effort to develop a museum in Lima, Ohio, which would have been located in the old Lima Locomotive Works and focused on the products built there. I wish that had come to pass, but it looks like the opportunity is now lost.
I want to see completed restoration projects, but I can forgive the presence of items that are in progress or mothballed for future restoration as long as I get a sense that progress is being made.
I want to see items displayed in some sort of understandable order.
I prefer a museum with a geographical focus. For example, I understand why there are Pere Marquette items at the B&O Museum, but I don't condone it. Those should be in Michigan, IMHO.
Tom
Museums are great, and I thank the people who do what it takes to restore, present, and maintain the displays.But personally, once is probably enough at any given museum for me. Once I see what they have there, I'm good. Unless:
--they have a new display or specific program that will entice me (and the publicity to tell me about it), or
--they have a prototype viewing area on the grounds, with plenty of action, or
--I have guests that would like to accompany me on a trip to this museum, or
--more research on a subject is needed, and the cars/locomotives are available and accessible to conduct said research.By all means, get the word out there and use signage along the highways if it's available to you.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
A couple of things get me to stop at a railroad museum, but first, we need to define what type of museum are we discussing.
If the museum is a depot or building full of dusty pictures and odds-and-ends, then I only stop if I have nothing else to do. Many are pretty sad and much of the information presented seems to be based upon folklore and not facts.
If the museum has a collection of equipment, much of it well restored, I will try to plan time during my travels. Museums like the one in Sacramento are regular stops due to their preservation and library collections. I had a few hours free in St. Louis a few weeks ago and stopped at the museum there and enjoyed the walk through the equipment, although I probably enjoyed the boneyard area as much as the preserved area. I really admire the large open carbarns to help with the preservation efforts. If the museum has equipment, access to it is also important in making my decision. Maybe it is because I have helped restore some equipment, but I like to see the process of restoration underway.
If the museum also includes some sort of excursion, that attracts me even more.
Finally, many special events actually discourage my attendance. I don't want to get involved with train hold-ups, clown days, hobo walks, Thomas, or other such events. I am more interested in the museum aspects of the operation and don't really need or want the "entertainment". I should say that I have operated a number of such events to attract attendance, but they just don't attract me.
Two constructive answers:If I'm travelling, I'll stop if I get reminded the day before. I'mjust following my face, and a museum might appear. Maybe a flyer at a visitor center or motel, or a bulletin board at a gas station.Answer 2: I go back to my local - less than an hour away - to look in the book shop. I buy books that I can hold in my hand (thanks anyway amazon) and the CRRM has a lot.John
As others have said, being in the area and knowing the museum is there. Last museum I visited was VA Museum of Transportation in Roanoke; we were in the area for a few days and I took advantage of being there. Same for the B&O Museum - we lived in MD.
The last full-scale rail museum I visited was the St.Louis Museum of Transportation a couple years ago. I went on a weekday. I left feeling ho-hum about it. After having seen the terrific Lincoln museum in Springfield, and the updated Gettysburg museum, from my point of view, train museums need to somehow up their game. I know that's a tall order. A non-train friend has recently asked me to go with him to the Green Bay rail museum in the near future. I'll do that because he asked, and we'd both like to see the now restored Eisenhower train that was just returned from England.
A gun in my ribs.
A lifetime of railfanning is not enough for me to overcome my dislike of museums, period. In general, there is too much stuff for absorption, in a less-than-comfortable atmosphere. (I don't like reading on my feet or having to compete with other people for information and views.)
I mildly enjoyed the California State Railroad Museum, and U.P.'s museum in Council Bluffs -- which I'm guessing are top of the line, or close -- but in both cases I was looking for daylight after an hour or so.
Last RR museum I was at was the B&O Museum in Baltimore.
Always enjoyed going there.
Doublestack Think about the last couple of RR museums that you visited. What was it that got you in the gate? An event? (What sort?). A certain piece of equipment? Maybe you just happened to be in the area. I'm just curious, the sorts of things that would get you to visit a rail museum. I volunteer with a museum and wanted to get your thoughts on what brings people in. Thanks!
Think about the last couple of RR museums that you visited. What was it that got you in the gate? An event? (What sort?). A certain piece of equipment? Maybe you just happened to be in the area. I'm just curious, the sorts of things that would get you to visit a rail museum. I volunteer with a museum and wanted to get your thoughts on what brings people in.
Thanks!
In research that the museum I work with has indicated is that gate admissions for Railfans are relatively small. The major source of revenue is families. So I guess is your question what gets fans there, or what gets customers there?
An event or equipment. When traveling I tend to look for a museum in the area. Or I base my vacation around an event.
Being in the general area and knowing about it.
While I've included railroad museums in my planning for trips, I can think of only one trip (and a day trip at that) that I took specifically to visit a railroad museum.
Probably the key there is knowing about it. I can't tell you how many people have ridden on our line (which is sort of a rolling museum, in a way) who said they didn't know we were there, and only happened upon us. That's one reason we try to keep equipment parked where it can be seen from the nearby highway.
I'd also opine that good looking signage can make a difference. Worn out/excessively weathered signs say to the prospective visitor that your facility may no longer be open - the signs just haven't been taken down.
Take advantage of standard signage that the state or local highway departments may offer. "Attractions" signs, as well as smaller signs can help bring people in. While looking for an example, I found an account for a museum in Tennessee that doubled its attendance after signs went up on the nearby Interstate.
And don't underestimate the 'Net. You've probably done this already, but I'll say it anyhow. Make sure you are listed with local tourism and business websites (ie, Chamber of Commerce, tourism council). You may be able to partner with other local attractions by touting them on your website even as they include you on theirs. That way someone looking to visit some other attraction will see you as well.
Local governments may also have a local attractions section on their website.
Make sure the national railroad publications (Trains, etc) know you exist. Even if you don't actively advertise (probably not in the budget of a small museum), they do occasionally publish lists of museums and other rail attractions.
Do you have a Facebook page? Once the "likes" get going, you'll get a lot of exposure. Make sure you post newsworth events, visits by groups, etc, and with pictures! My small fire department has around 360 "likes."
Visit regional train shows. A nice table cover, with some sort of display board, and a few artifacts, all staffed by several personable folks in matching polo shirts will certainly make folks aware of your existance. Might even increase your membership!
All stuff to get your name out there!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
"What gets you to go to a railroad museum?".
Usually it's my car
Honestly its usually ending up in the proximity (finding myself close to one) and having the available time. Whenever I am in Sacramento I always make time to go to the Ca. State RR Museum, Similarly when I went north recently I made an extra effort to get over to Roaring Camp, something I have wanted to do for years, but could never swing. My problem is that even the closest ones are still a pretty goood distance away and are usually a day trip or longer. The only one really close by is Traveltown in Griffith Park but having been there an infinity of times since childhood its not really anything special anymore.
Have fun with your trains
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