It doesn't help when some of the more prominent museums (IE State Run Operations) Will only allow you to "polish the bell". Case in point...I live 3 miles from the Nevada State Railroad Museum. I live 75 miles from the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola. When my wife and I were looking at joining a museum to volunteer, we shopped at both locations. I wanted to be Operating crew, I couldn't get the NSRM to give me the time of day. We checked out Portola. We joined that day. That was almost 5 years ago. I am now a qualified Conductor, Brakeman, Fireman (diesel). I have the hours in plus extra to be qualified as a Yard Engineer. Rod & Gail McClure, Frank Brehm, Eugene Vicknair, John Walker, Kerry Cochran..and many others welcomed me into the program and I've never looked back.

So you younger guys looking for a museum to join...come on up to Portola, We'll gladly put you to work an it won't necessarily be polishing a bell. We'll show you how to pull pins : )