One of the actions of the incompetents down in S. Carver that shows that they are totally clueless is their removal of most of the character of the railroad.
Character takes time to build. You can't just put down track and have character. The track has to work its way into the surroundings, it needs to age. Buildings age, furniture ages.
Edaville was full of character. Within the yard limits there were lots of sidings, old equipment, the turntable, water tower, the old engine house, the bypass track, etc.
That character would take a good amount of time to replace if it can be replaced at all.
Cranberry Jct station should have been repaired, not torn down. It was a very attractive station with plenty of character and history.
The water tower should have been repaired. The job of the water tower isn't go water the train as much as it is to add flavor and character to the railroad. Watering the train can be done with a standpipe. A standpipe has no character or railroad flavor.
No one in their right mind would have filled in the turntable pit. A new bridge should have been installed. Whether or not they ever use it is not the issue, it's the character and flavor that we are looking for.
No one who belongs in the railroad business would have torn up a single inch of track. All track adds flavor and character to the railroad. Even out of service track, half buried. It shows what used to be and thus has value.
The failure to replace the narrow gauge static displays and place them along the path from the entrance like before shows that the people running the show now are totally unqualified for their jobs and are in over their heads.
Narrow gauge static displays add character and flavor to the railroad and make the visit much more interesting. It's true that they have a token static display or two but that just doesn't cut it.
From a business point of view, having people pass through a gift shop on their way out is a good idea.
So, what made Edaville Edaville? The nice ride around the reservoir. The steam engines, the authentic Maine two foot equipment, the Chicken BBQ, the static displays, many narrow gauge, the old equipment, the sidings, Cranberry Jct station greeting you at the entrance, the working signal system. The nice walk from the entrance to the train with plenty of static displays of various types to look at. The Flying Yankee, the 1455. Both historic. Guardrail Curve, The Woods, Mt Urann, the original Peacedale, the view of the Atwood Reservoir from all sides, the smell of the water in the summer, the nice breeeze. All gone. Peacedale was replaced with Putzdale.
I imagine it must be tough to work there now. Most people probably have sore necks from hanging their heads in shame.
Anyone with a clue, if there are any, would constantly feel the need to apologize for the senseless destruction that has taken place under their watch.
