I love that! Remember the uproar at one trip where a RR ran a car in front of the locomotive so chasers couldn't get good photos. The chasers actually had the nerve to complain about that, how dare the RR do what they wanted and not allow the moochers to not get what they wanted for free. Imagine the nerve!
You'd be in a true minority, Bob...

Many, MANY moons ago there was a fantrip out of Baltimore to Hagerstown with ex-RDG 2102 in February. The trips ran on both Saturday and Sunday, two round trips.

The trip organizers sold a chase package as well as train tickets. We bought tickets AND the chase package, rode one day and chased the other. It went well and as chasers we felt we were contributing anyway (well we did ride on the other day).

The other memorable event was the weather would have made Dr. Zhivago feel at home.

Phil Mulligan

I suppose I could have gotten to the point quicker:

If you want to receive professional courtesy, try being professional and courteous...

2 days after making huge donation to a museum near Hemet ...
Some Personnel/volunteers were neither professional nor courteous ...
Situation was so dangerous I should have notified the Sheriff ...
And now they want significant donations for restoring equipment ...

Too many times personnel/volunteers act as if only they can
Access/operate/appreciate museum assets ...

What could have been, should have been ....

For all the people complaining about Chasers mooching off the Excursion have you ever considered putting advertisements on the side of your train? Of course it would be some kind of banner you could remove all the trains the station so the pain passengers can get their photos but en route... EAT AT JOE'S

Thanks to everyone who took time to respond and add to the discussion.



The Special Visitor glommed on to a museum volunteer who had been working on one of our passenger car projects, and had come up to the depot for lunch, so no, he wasn't an event volunteer. He told his sob story and made me sound like a Big Meany and frankly he took advantage of the volunteer's kindness and goodwill.

We get many visitors from other museums all the time. I usually don't meet them until I'm about to cut their ticket, and they quickly introduce themselves as they are boarding... or sometimes they introduce themselves on the way out... I'm always pleasantly surprised and gratified for their visit. Sometimes they arrange visits ahead of time, but no one has ever asked for free access or any other special treatment. Sometimes there's a humble request to see a piece that's not on display or tucked in the back, and I'm happy to oblige (as long as there's an escort available).

Our museum extends courtesy quite often to visiting members and officers of other museums. Whenever I offer to waive admission, I often see that ticket fee get stuffed into the donation box anyway. *That* is the sign of someone who understands and supports the preservation movement.

But when you want to barge in on a sold-out event to "take pictures" without even the decency to introduce yourself? That's just rude.

-otto-