Tommy posted:... they don't know how to pour water out of a boot by looking at the heel ...".
The actual witticism, as I heard growing up in rural Missouri anyway, is: "Couldn't figure out how to pour pis out of a boot even with directions printed upside down on the heel!" But I digress. There are two successful steam railroads I'm familiar with: the Boone & Scenic near Des Moines, IA, and the 1880 Train in Rapid City, SD. Both have survived for decades, through management and engine changes. They both understand who their primary clientele is (families) and what they want (an affordable experience with the family.) Both programs are very serious about steam and railroading, but they aren't "anal" about it. They understand if they don't treat it like a business, they won't be around long. If I were ever in charge of anything like that, the first places I'd be studying would be the Boone & Scenic and the 1880 Train.
It saddens me to hear of the WMSR's mostly self inflicted wounds. I've personally met about half a dozen of their people and found each to be outstanding! It's hard for me to understand how things could go so wrong for an organization that had so much going for it. Maybe their best bet now is to simply buy or lease a working steam engine so they don't lose their customer base? It would be a tragedy if the WMSR was allowed to wither away.
Kent in SD
