Re: OLC #7 In Color

What many people tend to forget is that any non-profit historical demonstration or for profit recreational railroad obviously needs to dream and have improvement goals, but at the end of the day has to have a reasonable business plan that pays the bills at the end of the season and hopefully has something left over to go towards capital improvements, aquisitions and for a non-profit - preservation.

While it would be great for SVRR to have the 3, 19 and 20 operational (as well as a recreated 252), or D&S and C&TS to have every one of their steam locos either operable or in the shop being rebuilt, the reality is none of them are ever going to be likely to financially justify the logistics or expense.

In SVRR's case, there has been a chronic shortage of volunteers for at least the last decade. The revenue from operations has covered expenses so far but it is always a huge challenge with lots of deferred maintenance, limitations on desired projects and the need to obtain grants and donations towards any major repairs (including 1472). Remember it doesn't just take volunteers to run the train, but to keep it in good repair as well as the track, buildings and numerous support activities. While 252 would be great, there's no way under reasonable circumstances that it could be kept running either on repairs or fuel costs.

While the group in Maine has made amazing progress, at some point they too will have to divert an increasing amount of resources away from new construction and expansion towards regular operations, support and maintenance which will be complicated by increasing costs and an aging volunteer base.

There are three planes you can be on. First is an observer who might participate in special events or photo specials. This is the far easiest and often the most enjoyable. As an active volunteer, you end up dealing with a whole new reality of operating obsolete equipment with limited resources, support and maintenance, sadly often under political stress. A whole different level is to try to do it as a real profession, particularly under full FRA regulations. Railroading is not all fun and games.

But don't give up dreaming because sometimes the improbable is possible, just stay reasonably grounded in reality.