Writing a Museum Proposal

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

Mentioning maritime museums, one of the best organized and most successful museum vessels in the world is the USS SLATER, which is docked at the Port of Albany, New York. That is fifteen minutes drive from downtown Schenectady. Run over there and see how they do things, brouse their website, take a look at the pages they have posted with photos of items they are seeking for the ship, and observe how they have motivated teams of volumteers to drive long distances to work on the vessel on their vacations.

Given the record of rail preservation in the Captial District, a startup museum would need some "outside the box" thinking to make it a worthwhile attraction. If you plan on trying to acquire a rusting RS3 hulk that has no potential to ever run again, I would suggest that you consider turning it into a cutaway locomotive, regardless of the flak it would generate on RYPN. Also take a look at featuring ALCO's diesel prime movers as free standing exhibits.

Just my $.02 worth.....

PC

JohnC · **Joined:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:20 pm **Posts:** 217

PCook wrote:

Mentioning maritime museums, one of the best organized and most successful museum vessels in the world is the USS SLATER, which is docked at the Port of Albany, New York. That is fifteen minutes drive from downtown Schenectady. Run over there and see how they do things, brouse their website, take a look at the pages they have posted with photos of items they are seeking for the ship, and observe how they have motivated teams of volumteers to drive long distances to work on the vessel on their vacations.

Given the record of rail preservation in the Captial District, a startup museum would need some "outside the box" thinking to make it a worthwhile attraction. If you plan on trying to acquire a rusting RS3 hulk that has no potential to ever run again, I would suggest that you consider turning it into a cutaway locomotive, regardless of the flak it would generate on RYPN. Also take a look at featuring ALCO's diesel prime movers as free standing exhibits.

Just my $.02 worth.....

PC

Your ideas Preston, are all good ones. Regarding the ALCO prime movers; we have talked about doing that already. There are plenty of them out there that would make good displays. We would also like to include a 16-244 if one can be found within reason as well as a 8-539 which is/was used for non-railroad purposes.

PCook · **Joined:** Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:16 am **Posts:** 2127

The intact 16-244 that was used for testing Navy gearboxes at Philly Gear was offered on eBay a while back, as far as I know there were no bidders. I do not know if that engine still exists, I doubt it, considering the high value of scrap last year just before the economic downturn. As far as I know that was the last original intact and operable 16-244 left in the US.

The cutaway ALCO 244 at the NY Transportation Museum in Rush, NY (south of Rochester) is still there and on display, along with a cutaway EMD 567. The ALCO engine is a very nice cutaway conversion, the machining work was beautifully done, but it is showing its age and is in need of a cleanup.

PC

toober · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:42 pm **Posts:** 124

PCook wrote:

Mentioning maritime museums, one of the best organized and most successful museum vessels in the world is the USS SLATER, which is docked at the Port of Albany, New York. That is fifteen minutes drive from downtown Schenectady. Run over there and see how they do things, brouse their website, take a look at the pages they have posted with photos of items they are seeking for the ship, and observe how they have motivated teams of volumteers to drive long distances to work on the vessel on their vacations.

Much of why SLATER works so well is that the guy on top, Tim Rizzuto, really knows how to balance things well, and keep just about everything and everyone happy - including the City of Albany.

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Will

toober · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:42 pm **Posts:** 124

PCook wrote:

Given the record of rail preservation in the Captial District, a startup museum would need some "outside the box" thinking to make it a worthwhile attraction. If you plan on trying to acquire a rusting RS3 hulk that has no potential to ever run again, I would suggest that you consider turning it into a cutaway locomotive, regardless of the flak it would generate on RYPN.

Yes, I believe the NYC S-1 is already at strike two. Don't make it strike three!

Speaking of S motors, I just took a look at 113 - and I am sad to say that is in very sorry shape as well.

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Will

toober · **Joined:** Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:42 pm **Posts:** 124

By the way - do you people have a website up and running yet? I really would like to find out more about your organization before I decide to contribute or join.

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Will

JohnC · **Joined:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 12:20 pm **Posts:** 217

toober wrote:

By the way - do you people have a website up and running yet? I really would like to find out more about your organization before I decide to contribute or join.

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Will

We are working on that .....slow going do to tech problems.