Thanks for the comment, Sam,
It sounds like the two of us have a lot in common.
As you can read elsewhere on RailroadGloryDays.com, I grew up along the Chicago Great Western and I was already a railfan, but that same summer in Alamosa, Durango and Silverton was a life changer for me.
Glen
Glen:
Just finished your piece on Bob Richardson, and the Motel/Museum in Alamosa.Your first paragraph, was an almost perfect description of our trip to Colorado.
In August of 1956, as a freshly minted teen, my folks took our family on a trip through New Mexico, and Colorado. The high point was staying in the Narrow Gauge Motel and the train ride to Silverton. I grew up with the ICRR as a virtual next door neighbor. But the Colorado trip, and the subsequent returns cemented a place in my psyche for trains.
Thanks for the memories.
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Hi Marty,
I don’t disagree with anything you said nor do I understand that you disagreed with anything I said. Is the evolution necessary or inevitable? Yes, no doubt it is.
I do appreciate that you and many others are taking the time to “to teach folks, especially younger ones, about their railroad heritage”. We need that very much.
I do wish, however, that there was just a little more effort made to satisfy the old guard with new material – publications, events and seminars, for example. I think Donald would say that that is being done: there is a gathering of all the RGS "Galloping Geese" planned, publications have been done, etc. So even my concerns are just a matter of degree.
This was a minor criticism, I do indeed believe that this is (as described) very much the way to run a railroad museum.
Glen Brewer
Railroad Glory Days
Glen, thanks for the web site describing that wonderful Museum. Let me start from a quote you wrote on your web site: The original museum was dedicated to preserve as much as possible for those who already cared; the new direction is to attract and educate the uninitiated. I can't help but dread this necessary shift, and as a rail-fan, feel a little neglected. As you describe the "original museum" it was a big-boys club. Nothing wrong with that. All older RR museums started that way as best I can tell. Railfans collecting historic RR artifacts and enjoying them. They made today's RR museums possible. At some point the Museum's Directors decided to evolve the Museum and accept 501(c)3 non-profit organization status from the people (aka the federal government) changing the basic purpose of the Museum. Some would argue it only then became a museum because it became an educational institution. Its collection is the people's Colorado railroad heritage and the Museum's purpose became to teach the people about that heritage. And the Museum gained many financial advantages by becoming non-profit. So to answer your question directly. Yes, that's how to run a RR museum. But I know members at Ry Museums who feel it's theirs and all these people are ruining it. As a lifelong railfan and transportation professional, I love being at a RR museum and getting to teach about what I love -- getting to teach folks, especially younger ones, about their railroad heritage. I actually spend most of my time renovating pieces of the museum's collection. I having too much fun to feel neglected. That's how I see it. Marty Bernard Wintering at Orange Empire Ry Museum Perris, CA
Sounds like the museum is in good hands. Thanks for the story.
Four years ago, I interviewed the Colorado Railroad Museum's then new Executive Director, Donald Tallman. We talked about his visions for the museum. I posted the article on my web magazine.
Two days ago, I was given the opportunity to visit again with Donald and learn how things have progressed and what is in the future for the museum.Here is my report:Is this any way to run a railroad museum? A second lookGlen BrewerRailroad Glory Days
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