Max Cox wrote: "I think we all need to keep reminding ourselves that tourist railroads are first and foremost a segment of the entertainment business. Historic railroads are a segment of that business. In many ways, historic railroads are more aligned with living history museums than other segments of the entertainment business. That adds another layer of complexity. This not to say that preservation, conservation and restoration of historic artifacts isn't important, but it should be done in a way that supports the mission and goals of the organization.
For the C&T to operate as a historically correct railroad as some are suggesting will require a change in direction in its operations and marketing. Are those skilled in the art of niche marketing willing and able to volunteer their services to bring this about? Are the Friends of the C&T, the Commissioners, etc., willing and able to accept these volunteer services? Only those directly involved can answer these questions. The rest of us can yammer all we want, but it is just hot air."
At last a sensible response to all the nonsense in this thread.
Has anyone actually done any research into where the income of these lines originates? Which groups of people are actually providing the money? From some of the posts I would say that very few have, and none of those have reacted.
If the breakdown is similar to the UK, and I don't think that the figures would differ significantly , you will find that about 90% of the ticket revenue (as opposed to grants, bequests, special appeals) will come from non railfans, and of that 90% somewhere upwards of 25% will be the result of things that railfans hate such as Thomas the Tank Engine & Santa Specials. A lot of these events bring repeat business (on my railway a large number book up for the next event when they visit for the first time). These people expect clean toilets, good catering facilites etc.
Railfans are fickle - most of them tick things off and never go again unless a new loco (or such like) appears on the scene when they crawl out the woodwork before disappearing again.
Think about it........
G
