Mid-Continent Railway Museum Blog - Comments

Bill Fuhrmann: It's In The Mail

nospam@example.com (Bill Fuhrmann) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:13:44 +0000

I got mine yesterday.

I have done bulk mailings before and asked about the variations in time. The non-profit mail depends on which post office you use and how busy the intermediate offices are. It gets handled after the higher level mail is done. Since I was doing mainly mail that was in the same metro area, it frequently got to people as fast as first class mail.

Jack: It's In The Mail

nospam@example.com (Jack) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:10:02 +0000

I received my literature two days ago and am very pleased with getting everything at the same time.

Good job, editors.

Jim Neubauer: It's In The Mail

nospam@example.com (Jim Neubauer) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:54:27 +0000

When I was The Steamer editor, I tried to schedule its production halfway--six weeks--between issues of The Railway Gazette so that there would not be an overload of Museum information all at once and then an arid period of no information from the Museum. Because I kept to this schedule, it usually worked out fine. For bulk mail it usually takes four to six weeks for mailings to reach members' homes. I can start watching my mailbox any time now. Nubes

Bill Handschin: After Glow

nospam@example.com (Bill Handschin) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:20:32 +0000

What a wonderful treat to participate in the fourth annual Gandy Dancer Festival! Railroading, history, music, food all in one place. It is always amazing to see what a community can accomplish when everybody cooperates and pulls in the same direction!

Jim Neubauer: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Jim Neubauer) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:52:59 +0000

After talking to the passengers about the iron mines that once existed in the area and how LaRue once had residences for the miners and that the LaRue tavern still standing was once a hotel. I would mention that the extracted iron ore was of poor quality, a low grade ore that was used mostly for making paint pigment, and that the miners who frequented the hotel thought of it as a low grade ore house. The low grade pun attracted one irate mother who didn't want her children to hear of such things and promptly reported me to the manager. The pun, once suggested by a passenger, was dropped from the spiel. Some people have no sense of humor.

Jim Neubauer: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Jim Neubauer) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:23:09 +0000

In 1893 the steam locomotive 999, on the New York Central & Hudson River, ran 112.5 miles an hour, as a publicity stunt on its way to the Columbia Exposition in Chicago. In 1993 on that May day exactly 100 years later, I was conducting the Museum steam train at North Freedom, and regaled the passengers with this piece of railroad history. The speed record has since come under suspicion, and the next anniversary won't happen in our lifetimes, but there is plenty of railroad information for a conductor to talk about, such as an explanation of the various whistle (or horn) signals, or our practice of railroad safety such as a brake test and why air hoses need to be coupled. The public does not know or understand of these things. So, invite the questions and make their sitting on the wicker (or rattan)seats educational! If they won't ask, tell them the answer anyway.

Bill Fuhrmann: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Bill Fuhrmann) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:12:13 +0000

I had a good teacher for leaning how to conduct - Jim Neubauer.
You had a great repour with the riders and made it interesting with his knowledge of the history of the area.

He had a much harder task of trying to teach me to be a fireman. I needed a lot more practice, then moved out of the area.

----

Tim:
Going for guesses or B.S. when the answer is not known is part of a normal psyche. People need to learn to "show they are not all knowing" and let people know that they don't know the answer. The best then point the asker to a source of the answer or find it out for them.

Tim: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Tim) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:47:32 +0000

Don-

Why make up an answer for the patrons? If you don't know the answer, simply say "I Don't Know." Was that so hard?
An interpretation program would suit Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society very well. Hire docents like other museums do. Your collections of restored static equipment may be more meaningful, since MCRHS cannot seem to resurrect a steam program. The story of railroading and in particular steam railroading in America is slowly fading. Take action and don't let it die. Offer guided tours of the Yard/Shops and Coach Shed multiple times each day. Your guests will be leaving the museum with meaningful messages and a better understanding of the equipment that built America. Show your progress, give potential donors (large and small) an idea of what it takes to make a tourist railroad operate and they will walk away with an appreciation for it all!

Jim Neubauer: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Jim Neubauer) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 15:08:25 +0000

Stan Mailer (some of us oldtimers remember Stan) posted a sign in the engine house as to how to handle tourist/railfan questions. The sign read: "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance. baffle them with b.s." We've grown up since those early days, but it's still worth noting. Jim Neubauer

Jim Neubauer: A Very Good Question

nospam@example.com (Jim Neubauer) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:00:39 +0000

There is so much information to impart to our passengers about the Museum,railroading,the iron mines, the equipment they are riding in, the equipment on display, that when I was conductor for all those years, I was sure to invite questions from the passengers. An asked question could be answered aloud to all the riders. Narration of the ride began in this fashion. It helped to fulfill the historical, educational role that is our obligation. For the conductors talking to the passengers helped to relieve the boredom of the ride, but it always was smart to stay alert to the in and outside of the train, for example, to alert their attention to the sandhill cranes that inhabit the area, and more that is seen on each and every trip. Not only do the passengers learen, but the narrator too learns. Jim Neubauer

Marge Slack: Steam Update

nospam@example.com (Marge Slack) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:08:00 +0000

YES!! Another web cam. I'm too far away to stop in & see for myself. The steam prgram is very near & dear to my heart. Would be great to keep up with some of what's going on.
Our nearby museum (TVRM) was the scene of recent movie shoots. I'd love to have Mid Continent doing it again

Jeffrey Bloohm: Mazo Or No Mazo

nospam@example.com (Jeffrey Bloohm) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:23:39 +0000

The new flood plain lines are going to present some challenges at NF. Many of our plans may be quashed because of them. We will have to deal with the flood plain issues one at a time.

Management has no plans on moving the entire operation to Mazo because of the flood issues. At NF we own our own railroad, at Mazo we do not. At NF we have our physical plant, at Mazo we do not.

Management has been open to the membership as to why we are trying this 18 month venture in Dane County. It appears some of the members do not listen and read what management is saying. It seems that some just do not want to listen at all, some minds are made up regardless of the rewards that may be available at Mazo.

Many railroad Museums are being forced to change with the times. The ones that are willing to make changes will survive. The ones that are content to be the same old, same old, may not. The Mazo extension is designed to enhance the NF operation, not hinder it or cause it to move.

As your President, I do not know how I can be more honest in stating that Management is NOT planning on moving from NF to Mazo or any other location.

In honesty, lets give the Mazo pilot program a chance, if it produces fruit, then it is a success, if it does not, then lets scrub it.

Someone said a house divided will fall, it is now up to the membership to support Management in the 18 month Mazo venture.

Mike Laabs: Some Assembly Required

nospam@example.com (Mike Laabs) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:27:14 +0000

Skip thanks for your vision of keeping steam real & close by.

Charles Ham: Mazo Or No Mazo

nospam@example.com (Charles Ham) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:19:03 +0000

This whole MAZOMANIE BUSINESS stinks! There MUST be some reason that this has been brought up by Management. IS our location at North Freedom ACTUALLY untenable because it is in a flood plain? Is THIS the actual reason for all of the hoopla about Mazomanie? If it IS, then the Board should come out and SAY THAT DIRECTLY TO THE MEMBERS!!! We have a large investment in North Freedom, both in time and in facilities that have been built with the sweat of the membership over a 50 year span. If the MANAGEMENT thinks that our time at NF is over, and we need to start over from scratch, then they need to SAY it. Otherwise what Judy and Jim are saying is the most important issue at hand. Either management is being honest with the membership or it isn't. It's as simple as that.

Jeffrey Bloohm: Mazo Or No Mazo

nospam@example.com (Jeffrey Bloohm) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:09:51 +0000

Mazo or not, assult on management or not, prior to 1999 we had all of the Director's elected by the voting membership. One of the reasons why the bylaws were restated was because we saw the need to get successful business people on our board to make sound business decisions and to raise needed funds.

I was there to see the member elected board operate, I was even a Director and had three terms as President back then. The board at the time met monthly for 4-5 hour marathon nuts & bolts sessions. They would look at the ridership and gift shop sales and make due with what the income was. Because there was no organized fund raising and because the other two items fell short in providing enough funds, things like the physical plant and steam locomotives were repaired only when they broke down, and then, only the broken item was fixed. There was no plan on locomotive rebuilding to the extent we must do today. It is my opinion, the blame for no steam today is the decisions made, or lack thereof, of previous member elected Boards.

Now there is a move by some to go back to these days. Back to what? You may say back to membership control. Control of what? We had membership control once before, will it be any better this time around?

Management and the Board of today is working on rebuilding steam locomotives. The 2 project is coming along, the 1385 project is again moving, slow, but moving. The 1's project is now being reconsidered on how we will proceed with it. There is a plan to pay off the huge debt incurred by the flood and borrowing to allow us to continue to use some vital portions of MC. Fund raising is way up from what it was. Donations are coming in at a steady pace, even though we have a poor economy. It is my opinion that if the management of today was not in place in 2008, MC would have never re opened after the flood.

Management has tried to keep the membership informed in our publications, at meetings, and a statement sent out by the Treasurer. But as Joe Dillenburg stated, some members did not want to listen.

We need Don Meyer's 3 tier income pie in order to prosper and grow. That is the 1/3 - 1/3 - 1/3, ticket & gift shop sales, small & large donantions (gifts), and receiving grants. It is the latter two that will allow MC to grow and prosper, not the train ride. Will a member elected board be able to achieve this goal? The board and management of today will.

Our books are open, we have received a clean audit by an outside accounting firm each year, we post items on the members web page, we publish information in the Steamer & Gazette, we have this blog, and we file a form 990 and 990T each year with the IRS. We are on the up and up.

Jeffrey B Bloohm, President