Steam & Excursion > More issues at Western Maryland Scenic....?

WMSR Experiencing Financial Problems According To Documents
Follow Us
facebook
twitter
July 26th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

According to documents obtained by WCBC News, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is experiencing financial problems, so much so that there are issues paying the rent and ridership fees. The hope had been that a fully restored steam engine 1309 would provide a significant boost in ridership and revenue- however the documents received by WCBC suggest that the steam engine will not be ready for “some time”. Plans to have 1309 ready for a grand July 4th weekend open fell through as railroad superintendent John Garner announced that state re-imbursments for renovations had been slow in coming. More recently a late September start up has been discussed, but the ongoing fiscal issues may jeopardize those plans. Numerous calls in recent weeks to both Garner as well as the chair of the railroads board of directors Mike Brant have not been returned.

https://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=wmsr-experiencing-financial-problems-according-to-documents

https://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=superintendent-addresses-railroad-finances


Radio Interview with Mr. Garner.....

Begs the question about how they are paying the outside contractors who will be performing the complete installation of the boiler tubes/flues.

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Begs the question about how they are paying the
> outside contractors who will be performing the
> complete installation of the boiler tubes/flues.

I don't know how they are paying for it, but there
is a new photo of the completed flue sheet that was
posted a while ago. So they are making progress.
Fingers crossed. I've got a ticket in November :-)

John.

I think a audit is in order. Have investigators seize the records of income/expenses.

Posted from iPhone

I'm sure there's a substantial amount of record keeping required for the $400K state grant they
received since I believe there was a match clause involved.

Out

So how much will $51,200 buy? That's about the amount they are holding from paid participants (based on 100) for the planned September photo event sponsored by TRAINS Magazine. I hope they have sufficient funds on hand to refund if the event doesn't go on as scheduled. They can't just assume everyone will be able to commit to a replacement date. It's getting very close to the traditional 60 day "go/no go" date (a pretty standard practice in the tour industry) that allows for participants to book travel which in most cases is non-refundable. If they cannot commit to a go date by 60 days out, which looks very doubtful, refunds should be provided for those who can't just show up on short notice. I have friends who are flying over from Europe and air fares will get higher with only crappy seats available. Amtrak to Cumberland will most likely soon run out of bedrooms. Updates from the railway and refund policy would be appreciated. (web site says no refunds for special events however that doesn't take into account the unique circumstances surrounding the event).

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have friends who are flying over from Europe and
> air fares will get higher with only crappy seats
> available. Amtrak to Cumberland will most likely
> soon run out of bedrooms. Updates from the railway
> and refund policy would be appreciated. (web site
> says no refunds for special events however that
> doesn't take into account the unique circumstances
> surrounding the event).

Those unique circumstances are what make it, wait a minute....

A special event.

andersonb109 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So how much will $51,200 buy? That's about the
> amount they are holding from paid participants
> (based on 100) for the planned September photo
> event sponsored by TRAINS Magazine. I hope they
> have sufficient funds on hand to refund if the
> event doesn't go on as scheduled. They can't just
> assume everyone will be able to commit to a
> replacement date. It's getting very close to the
> traditional 60 day "go/no go" date (a pretty
> standard practice in the tour industry) that
> allows for participants to book travel which in
> most cases is non-refundable. If they cannot
> commit to a go date by 60 days out, which looks
> very doubtful, refunds should be provided for
> those who can't just show up on short notice. I
> have friends who are flying over from Europe and
> air fares will get higher with only crappy seats
> available. Amtrak to Cumberland will most likely
> soon run out of bedrooms. Updates from the railway
> and refund policy would be appreciated. (web site
> says no refunds for special events however that
> doesn't take into account the unique circumstances
> surrounding the event).

Your whinning has already been throughly addressed.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?10,4334702,4334936#msg-4334936

Over-optimism always leads to disappointment. Setting dates far in advance for gala opening ceremonies on a unique project of this scope is foolish; having it fall through leads to egged-faces and angry customers-to-be. Get it finished and operating off-line and out of sight somewhere, fully de-bugged, then have the gala on opening day of next year's season. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, "It ain't ready 'til it's ready"!

With all the warnings that have been posted here and elsewhere anyone who still has non-refundable transportation reservations based upon the 1309 being in service by a certain date has only themselves to blame.

As to whether or not the WMSR has the sufficient funds to issue refunds should the pre-sold events not happen,.... who knows??

As I've often shared, the return to service of a complex machine like the 1309 is a MAJOR undertaking and there's no way to estimate a finish date until it's done AND the break-in runs have found and fixed the gremlins that will surely surface.

It will be done when its done.

Ross Rowland

The contract they sent me clearly stated "No Refunds". I tossed it and kept my 500-some bucks. === === = === JLH

I believe the no refund policy applies to not showing up for a trip that runs. If the trip doesn't run that is a horse of a different color. Returning the 1309 to service is a remarkable effort and I think the WMS deserves our support. Nothing good in life is without some risk, so I bought a ticket for November (September was sold out). I hope they make it. If not it will be just another bump on a challenging road.

JBWX

Healthy perspective, John. I wish more forum members could dial it back a bit and just appreciate the fact that the engine is being restored. No one with half a brain things these projects go exactly as planned from the very beginning.

TG

TrackGuy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Healthy perspective, John. I wish more forum
> members could dial it back a bit and just
> appreciate the fact that the engine is being
> restored. No one with half a brain things these
> projects go exactly as planned from the very
> beginning.
>
> TG

Well,,,,,you know that, and most of the rest of us know that, however apparently neither the current management of WMSR nor Trains Magazine, knows/understands that!