Don, aka N2qhvRMLI,
I didn't realize that The Vanderbilt & Planetarium were having trouble
I suspect that Old Bethpage is in the same shape.
There has been a general lack of visitors at most of these museums in the tri-state area.
It may be more wide spread, I just don't have any information outside of this area.
I include non RxR attractions to guage the pubilc in general vs. railfans, e.g.
in CT: Barmum Museum (Bridgeport), Mystic Seaport (New London), Sturbridge Village (Springfield MA), etc.
So if we acknowledge general lack of interest by the public & compound that with less & less railfans who are alive & interested in trolley rides, steam, etc. We begin to see the cause of the problem. The final nail in RMLI coffen is there lack of a ride. Take into consideration the ability of Essex or Naggy to attract a large amount of visitors ... one has steam (they just bought a 3rd engine), the other diesel ... both offer a Thomas event that goes a long way to pay their bills for the whole year. The Point (Warehouse Point Trolley Museum) does very well at Christmas by offering a ride in an open car down their line strung with lights. At the Branford Trolley Museum birthday parties pay a lot of the bills & a visit to sit on Santa's lap helps a lot too. The "ride" or equipment & history to look over for both of the latter two is not why they came.
My two points:
1. RMLI needs to get something operating, because mom will bring the kids for a afternoon trip that is inexpensive. Mom will bring her son to a RxR place & have a birthday party there because it's different then Micky D's or Chuck E Cheeze.
2. RMLI needs to get the visitors to come in, not primarly for railfan reasons, i.e. see #1
I heard a romor that RMLI was goping to give up on the full scale stuff & move to a smaller scale type place ????
I didn't realize that The Vanderbilt & Planetarium were having trouble
I suspect that Old Bethpage is in the same shape.
There has been a general lack of visitors at most of these museums in the tri-state area.
It may be more wide spread, I just don't have any information outside of this area.
I include non RxR attractions to guage the pubilc in general vs. railfans, e.g.
in CT: Barmum Museum (Bridgeport), Mystic Seaport (New London), Sturbridge Village (Springfield MA), etc.
So if we acknowledge general lack of interest by the public & compound that with less & less railfans who are alive & interested in trolley rides, steam, etc. We begin to see the cause of the problem. The final nail in RMLI coffen is there lack of a ride. Take into consideration the ability of Essex or Naggy to attract a large amount of visitors ... one has steam (they just bought a 3rd engine), the other diesel ... both offer a Thomas event that goes a long way to pay their bills for the whole year. The Point (Warehouse Point Trolley Museum) does very well at Christmas by offering a ride in an open car down their line strung with lights. At the Branford Trolley Museum birthday parties pay a lot of the bills & a visit to sit on Santa's lap helps a lot too. The "ride" or equipment & history to look over for both of the latter two is not why they came.
My two points:
1. RMLI needs to get something operating, because mom will bring the kids for a afternoon trip that is inexpensive. Mom will bring her son to a RxR place & have a birthday party there because it's different then Micky D's or Chuck E Cheeze.
2. RMLI needs to get the visitors to come in, not primarly for railfan reasons, i.e. see #1
I heard a romor that RMLI was goping to give up on the full scale stuff & move to a smaller scale type place ????