Guidelines for reopening in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak has made one thing clear for museums and tourist railroads: Open-air cars are a hot commodity.
So says Cheryl Marcell, chair of a HeritageRail Alliance task force that issued those guidelines in early May. The HRA’s “Recommended Practices for Reopening Tourist Railroads and Railway Museums,” created by a five-member committee, says operating sealed-window coaches with no outside ventilation should be avoided. Other key recommendations include 6-foot social-distancing markings, assigned seats, and asking family members to assist mobility challenged customers.
“Social distancing and sanitizing museum and passenger equipment sanitizing are other key elements of HRA’s reopening guide,” says Marcell, president and CEO of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation. Almost all historic rail and rail museum operations, including both of California’s state-owned rail heritage parks, have been shuttered since mid-March.
Marcell says the guide “communicates protocols to make the museum or train as sanitary as possible so a customer feels safe.” It’s a huge challenge, Marcell says, in light of other critical findings included in the guide:
— Covid-19 will remain a danger to the public for the remainder of 2020 and likely beyond.
— It is impossible to guarantee no risk of infection.
— Museums and railroads may be subject to local laws, emergency rules or other restrictions imposed by states, local governments, or others that [will] supersede these recommendations.
Earlier in her career, Marcell was an aviation industry executive who faced the challenges of operating a major airport on and after 9/11. “After the 9/11 shutdown,” she says, “we had a federal government playbook and were able to open up in just a few days. Nothing like that exists for operating in the pandemic environment.” In putting together its own guide, the task force “looked at best guidance from airlines and state guidance for the retail and restaurant industries,” Marcell says. It also consulted industry groups like the California Travel Association.
An additional issue facing HRA’s 189 members is that pandemic impacts vary widely from state to state and within states, Marcell says: “In northern New York, things are fine, but it’s completely different in New York City.
“HRA members view themselves as story tellers and a train ride or museum visit is a very ‘customer-facing-forward’ experience.” That’s a huge challenge, she says, as “virtual does not work well for a train ride. It needs to be an in-person experience.”
At the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, Marcell says repairing two open-air gondolas has become a priority for shop forces. Other features to make customers feel safer are sanitation stations with sanitizers, paper towels, wastebaskets, and appropriate signage. And, she says, “Wearing masks and gloves are new standard protocols for all staff and visitors.”
This will be the case at all HRA member operations, where changes will be significant. The time-honored sight of a trainman offering a helping hand to alighting or boarding passengers may be verge of extinction. With widespread and strong warnings against large gatherings, Marcell observed special events like Polar Express and Day Out With Thomas, which rely on attracting big crowds, full trains and merchandise sales, may take a hit. So will food service – the HRA prefers there to be none.
Will the pandemic threaten the strategic viability of some operations?
“That depends on the financial reserves of smaller operations dependent on Thomas or Christmas-themed events like Polar Express,” Marcell says.
“It’s all so frustrating for the people in this business.”
Children, children. Play nice!
JOHN – Ignorant post during an epidemic!
It was bad enough that two aviators are determining Amtrak’s destiny. Now one is over the organisation of tourist railways and museums. ¶I have always favoured enclosed passenger cars for the full passenger train experience. Cars with sealed windows tend to be the more modern collection with climate control. The quiet interior ride with muffled track and whistle sounds is what I am familiar with as a small child in the 1950s. ¶Open gondolas are fine for those people desiring to embrace the scenery. But, never do away with the enclosed passenger cars that offer an authentic passenger train experience.
These are unprecedented times, and adjustments must be made. Not all of our heritage railroads will survive this, and that is lamentable. But it is also reality.
It’s a step in the right direction, beats not opening/operating at all. No one likes restrictions but no one is forcing anyone to visit either.
Every single one of these guidelines, without even one exception, will be harmful to the industry. Both economically devastating and a diminishment to the visitors’ experience.
JOHN – Great post.
How about letting the customer decide. Have open air cars with unlimited seating. Closed cars with limited seating. And closed cars with unlimited seating. I’ll bet all the seats will all be taken on the unlimited seating coaches. Those who don’t like any of those options can exercise their choice to stay home.
Although slightly different from a “train ride”, the Seashore Trolley Museum, members of the HRA, were able to open: https://trolleymuseum.org/2020/05/08/seashore-trolley-museum-announces-soft-opening/They, along with the rest of that part of Maine, are moving into Phase 2 of “reopening next week”, which will allow for even more visitors and riders.
Most operations will not make money by these conditions. You need full trains in the top season to break even. Best to just stay shut down for the season and save the fuel, personnel cost and insurance.
Hey, maybe you guys will get lucky and someone will find out that coal smoke cures Covid-19.