>the FRRS is NOT an operating railroad under 49CFR but IS, in fact, nothing more than a bunch of "railfans" themselves.

Also keep in mind that the FRA does have juristiction over the operations of all "tourist" railroads, which is what rr museums are classified as. To date, they've pretty much kept their hands off the museums, but there have been other serious "incidents": Baltimore Streetcar Museum collision and the Gettysburg RR boiler explosion, which directly or indirectly lead to the revamping of the FRA boiler and steam locomtoive rules. Nor is this the first such incident of this nature at Portola. Such irresponsilbe events like these are hastening the day of FRA oversight. Don't forget the very same thing happed with the rrs themselves between 1870 and 1910.