CSRM of late has had to deal with a lot of changing priorities, making it very hard to stay on course for any particular restoration undertaking (like GR10). Particularly significant issues affecting resources have been the pending development of the former SP railyard surrounding the CSRM shops, the changing developers of the Railyard land, the UP track move to eliminate the S-curve, the UP 150th anniversary celebration, and the turmoil caused by the State Parks and Recreation budget money-hiding scandal. How does a group of paid and volunteer workers know what the lead project is, when today it's salvaging a mile of track, in place, donated by UP, then tomorrow it's installing a 130-lb turnout behind the Museum, then the next day it's replacing 50-100 dead ties on the excursion main line, then the next day it's completely rehabbing the 78' turntable, interspersed at times with an on-again-off-again heads-up that the Shop will move to temporary quarters in X months so the building can be renovated... all to meet emerging priorities? This wonderful museum has one foot in Old Sacramento, which has a terrible graffiti and vandalism reputation, and the other foot in the "Railyard", which every politician within a mile radius wants to develop into either a sports arena or something really, really showy but no assigned developer to date has the money for. The State portion of the museum's budget has been in virtual limbo for years due to the State budget crisis. The CSRMF portion mostly pays for operation of the excursion railroad. The Museum really lacks a professional-grade fundraising undertaking, and has missed numerous opportunities to raise money by timid leadership and/or bureaucratic roadblocks by government.

In spite of all the challenges, the volunteers at CSRM see great value in being part of preserving and interpreting the collection and most of us are optimistic about changes in the future.

To Mr. DJ and others who just can't see past their fixed-view prejudices toward CSRM, I say Tell us something we haven't heard before, because you have used up the excuse that you have the right to complain, with your tired old pot-shot comments that add nothing and serve no one but your own ego.

If you REALLY want to have people pay attention to you, either stick with what you're good at, like photography, or back up your tired words with deeds, like work hours at CSRM or donations.