o anderson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree that the WW&F is a historical operation,
> by virtue of accurate re-creation.[[b]*[/b]]
> :
> :
> The question we may be dealing with this century
> is "What the purpose, function, and viability of
> museum and tourist railroads as American personal
> mobility costs increase while middle class income
> decreases?" I wish it were not that way, but it
> seems we keep getting pinched by the players of
> the world, as well as changing times due to
> limitations of resources etc.
Hmm, maybe this
>
topic is more appropriate for another forum.
>
> O. Anderson
Not so. IMHO it is
very important that we consider resource shortages here on the NGDF, and adjust our income and expense projections accordingly. Some very generous souls have donated large sums recently for the restoration of RGS #20 and C&TS #463, but this is not the usual situation for most of our favorite lines or engines. The majority of historic preservation efforts are not big money makers, relying on a combination of donors, grants,
riders and volunteers to help make ends meet. As gasoline prices rise to $4.00 and maybe $5.00 / gallon, ridership on many lines will decrease as fans are forced to choose between fuel for recreation and fuel to get to work. Operations located along major highways such as the Sumpter Valley, GTL, GCRy and - to some extent - D&SNG may have an easier time of it than out-of-the-way lines such as C&TS, EBT and NN, but those which depend most heavily on ridership are likely to feel the biggest pinch.
Pessimism is contrary to my usual smart-ass nature, but my current plans are to visit as many of the most historic and/or scenic steam-powered** western operations as possible in 2008, while I can still (barely) afford to travel and they are still in business ...
El Curmudgeono Viejo y Loco
* Me too.
** This obviously excludes the mis-managed Loop-de-Loop
