Saving this interesting essay in case the TO moderator removes it for stepping on someone’s toes.

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by xxxx
Posted: Today

As with most all railway museums, there was a rocky beginning --

Yes, about thirty years ago we had a well educated person show up, and he was a great organizer. He soon was appointed to manage our rail operations. We slowly discovered that he was going around the museum and causing dissention among the troops, pitting one group against the other, then sitting back and watching the fireworks -- we were all miserable. Once he was extracated most of the infighting disappeared.

This person later went on to LA's Travel Town, employing his talents there and when that all went south, then on to Fullerton station's hoped for giant rail museum. We can still see the extent of that project..

I would bet that all railway museums have had somewhat the same scenario. Most museums are steam and diesel only or all electric. separating factions. OERM has all three -- steam, diesel and electric in three track gauges, and we are now flourishing. Things now are not Utopia, but enjoyable.

Years ago we were just a bunch of kids having fun with their own little railroad. Since 9/11 everything has changed -- and we've gotten much older and wiser also. The railway museum "business" is not an easy thing nowdays. It is a business, and must be run as one, live or die, fun or not.

Somehow the museum isn't as much "fun" as it was sixty years ago, but there is a lot of satisfaction in seeing our progress, and to see visitors enjoying our museum.