Unfortunately a lot of the aforementioned annoyance is usually burn-out.

I know I was getting that way when I was working on one of our support equipment. The frustration happened when I was either fighting a new bug that stuck it head out or was pulled to assist on another high priority project, during which, over the course of the day would be asked `so when will it be running' (usually by members). You can only take answering the same question so many times, before a fuse pops, especially while trying to figure out what caused the last problem. After a while, since we are co-workers as volunteers, some would ask just to get a rise, or in a jest. Luckily I always answered those members differently from visitors as they were actually curious instead of being annoying...

I can imagine how a similar thing would happen on a larger, more complex restoration, especially when you add experts and foamers to the mixture. Especially if you have a member that is the type that like to just stick their head into the project and not deal with the general public. Unfortunately if you happen to be the third person to ask the same question that day, they can get rather abrasive (I am sure you know this type of great worker, we all happen across them in these circles), these are the type that tend to say leave me alone so I can get this done, in multiple colorful ways.

Rich C.

Let's try turning this question around:

For example, why are the general public allowed to wander around where work is ongoing? For one thing, what does your insurance provider think about that? Are you covered if some goofus steps into a pit or gets hit by flying slag or parts or something falls on him or he gets sick from welding, grinding or painting fumes or slips on an oily spot or grabs something hot or freshly painted ? Or claims to have been exposed to asbestos or lead paint at your place?

There are a lot of good reasons to keep the general public/sightseers/etc. away from work areas while work is being performed, and liability and insurance concerns are only part of the story.

Having people wander around while no work is underway (e.g. during the shop lunch break) is one thing. But in a broader sense, nothing is more dangerous than human nature on the hoof, and when that conflicts with the people doing what are hot, noisy, jobs in a small environment are at work. The workforce has to look out for each other and they do not need to be concerned about Joe Sixpack and his 2.3 kids and his dog all wandering around loose and inevitably getting themselves into potentially dangerous situations through their own lack of common sense or awareness.

Not to mention annoying the hell out of and slowing down the people trying to get the work done. Even the most patient worker eventually will get testy.

IMO, when the weather is good enough, have the doors open but roped off so that people can see inside but cannot get into harms way. Or let them in only when no work is going on. If working in an outdoor environment, put up a fence or ropes to keep people from getting into positions where they will be in the way or might get hurt.

Yes, we are proud of our work, as well we should be. Yes, our paying visitors or potential volunteers should get to see things.

But think about this: How many factories can you visit and just wander in where work is going on? Take your toddlers into a steel mill to see molten metal being poured? Ever try to just wander freely through the Smithsonian restoration/curator areas? How about where they are still working on the remains of the submarine Hunley? Stroll around the launch pads at Cape Canaveral while they are setting up a missile for launch? It ain't going to happen. And for many good reasons.

Some places, such as the Smithsonian and some maritime museums have designated areas for viewing, usually from a second floor, windowed area. People can see what's going on what's being worked on and ask questions of a docent, but they can't get
in the way or aggravate the workers.

Just my 2 cents, and probably worth even less.

Lincoln,

I agree with what you say on the safety aspect, but at most RR Museums, only a small portion of the work is of that type (Welding, AO Cutting, Grinding, etc. or machine shop area) Most of the restoration work is bolts, tubes, wires and paint. Unless you are part of one of the large museums, that have an amount of funds available, having a lexan windowed restoration room is a pipe dream, it's hard enough getting the collection presentable and under cover first.

Cant talk about other museums, but for us, finishing the roundhouse, building restrooms, installing more display tracks and getting a primary `museum' building have higher priority than a separate purely restoration area.

At our museum, if we are doing anything that needs a safety zone it gets blocked off, but for the most part visitors are on or near the equipment in the roundhouse, usually with a docent guiding them.

Rich C.

Seems like a different topic altogether regarding safety. Naturally visitors shouldn’t be allowed in places that are not safe for them to be! It almost sounds like you are saying the workers have a right to be annoyed if they are asked the same question more than once? Imagine if the ticket agents got annoyed because they were asked “what’s the difference between coach and 1st class?” Oh like 100 times a day.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are a benefit to an organization if you can’t be polite to the visitors. It won’t matter how much volunteer hours you put in if you encourage visitors to never return by talking down to them.

Should we be annoyed?

It depends on the circumstances. There’s no blanket answer. You can get annoyed all you want, but it’s how you respond that makes the difference. Should you respond at all? Are you permitted to respond? If you’re annoyed, maybe you should refer the inquisitor to a person that is better suited to answer.

A big part of a ticket agent's job is to answer questions, and he knows that going in.
Same applies to a passenger conductor or trainman.

It isn't part of the job of a boilermaker, machinist, pipefitter, or a number of other jobs. They are not trained for it; they are trained to focus on the job at hand. Interruptions force these folks to divert at least part of their attention and concentration from what they are supposed to be doing, and that in itself can quickly morph into an unsafe situation.

I am not in favor of getting grouchy at the guests, but it is understandable (if not always defensible) if workers whose primary duties do not or should not involve being "Julie the tour guide." That is what docents are for.

“That’s what docents are for” is the type of attitude that makes my blood boil.

Again, no one is suggesting that visitors should be allowed in unsafe areas, or to interrupt work. That’s a whole different situation that you are bringing up.

Docents are there to interract with the visitors. Not everyone should be a docent because not everyone is a “people person”. Every outfit has folks that should limit, if not avoid interaction with visitors altogether. Some of those folks are aware of it and keep themselves busy in other areas where there are no visitors like shops, yards, and other work areas that aren’t open to visitors.

This is an interesting discussion. A point that has not been made yet. Most volunteer museums are working on their collections on Saturdays and some Sundays.

This is a far cry from paid organizations like the Disney Parks that work on a 40 hour or more week. There is no getting away from the fact that restoration projects take a lot of time. Most of them, need time for reseach, photo grathering and materials acquissions.

The Illinois Railway Museum has an excellent Car Shop, with volunteers working on the Michigan Electric #28 for years. They are replacing steel by using rivets. I have no idea when the car will be finished.

At my own Western Railway Museum, they have been working on the Key System #271 suburban streetcar for several years. It will be finished when it is finished.

And the bigger the artifact the longer it takes. How about the USS Slater at Albany, NY? That crew of volunteers has been restoring missing parts of their Destroyer Escort for allmost 30 years!

I do car barn tours and questions like that should be an oppertunity to teach our visitors about museum work and wha it means to restore and preserve an artifact.

Ted Miles, Western Railway Museum

This is something that “the inquisition” often forgets or is not aware of in the first place. Again, good docents/tour guides/spokespersons/persons otherwise designated as “good at talking to people” are valuable assets. I have worked for over twelve years at one of, if not the greatest maritime museum in the United States. We have an entire department dedicated to exhibit interpretation and educating the visitors. Not every place can do this to same scale, but every bit helps.

Illinois Railway Musuem is the best example I can think of as far as how to do it right.
I remember walking through one of the electric barns and a group that was working on the electroliner let me come inside and see how they were doing on the restoration. Was certainly more informative than if a docent had been placed outside to keep people from bothering the volunteers. If the visit with me and others sets the electroliner project back a few years I think they will survive and be better off for it. Certainly got me excited (and yes I made a donation that day towards the electroliner fund!)

IRM is also very active with their online blogs. They barely got the shay running and they are starting up work on the UP steam engine. When you ask them “when is that engine going to run” the answer seems to be “as soon as we finish up the one we are working on now!”

They also have long term goals (the new Main Street project) posted on their website complete with artist renderings.

Very True. Unlike the Mouse House, we ain't swimming in money like Scrooge McDuck, and we can't always finish a project on schedule. I believe Disney is a fine example here, as there isn't really going to be a major delay unless something really drastic happens.