WWF 2012 LRPX Draft 5.Docx
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Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum Long Range Plan 30 September 2012 The Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Inc., is a non- profit organization established in 1989 to acquire, preserve, and restore the operation of narrow gauge railroads and equipment which operated in the Sheepscot Valley and on other roads and to establish a Museum for the dis- play of artifacts for enlightenment and education of the general public con- cerning the social and economic impact of railroads on the communities served. Preamble The WW& F mission statement, quoted above, defines the parameters of every aspect of our operation. Our organization has a myriad of independent goals that separately serve to better our operation in a vari- ety of ways, but collectively serve to meet our stated purpose of restoring the operation of the WW&F Railway and establishing a first-class museum as its namesake. The Long Range Plan has been carefully formulated to identify, plan, and coordinate the many different aspects of our operation that collectively serve the greater purpose stated above. Plan Generation In February 2004, the Board of Directors appointed a Long Range Planning Committee to draft a plan for the Museum’s future. Using a survey that was enclosed with the May/June 2004 Newsletter and informal surveys at the Museum, the Committee produced a Long Range Plan that was approved and published in May 2005. An updated version was approved and published in June 2006. In each case, paper copies of the Plan were available for the cost of reproduction and mailing, plus being available on the Museum’s website www.wwfry.org. In 2010, the Board of Directors requested that a Long Range Planning Committee draft an updated plan. This newly revised Long Range Plan is the Committee’s response to that request. Overview After the original member survey, research, and vigorous and open discussions, the prior Committee for- mulated the categories and matters that the Plan should attempt to address. Their intent was to be all- inclusive and to address all areas that could potentially affect the Museum and its members. The present Committee feels that this intent was well met by the previous format, but have revised each section to in- clude information about the progress that has (or has not) been made since previous Plan was published. Further, in an effort to unify the individual goals of the various sections into a single cohesive goal, a Business Plan section has been included. This plan examines the operating budget of our organization as it may exist at a point in the future when, we project, the various goals laid out here have been reached. The business plan addresses the sustainability of the organization by providing the data necessary to con- sider two questions: “How will we use the infrastructure we propose in this Long Range Plan?” and “Can we maintain an operation of this magnitude?” 1 Contents Preamble ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Plan Generation ............................................................................................................................... 1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Section 1 Railroad Operations .................................................................................................. 5 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... 5 Intent and Function of Railroad Operation ................................................................................. 5 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................... 6 Regular Passenger Operations ................................................................................................ 6 Special Operations .................................................................................................................. 7 Operational Management and Safety ...................................................................................... 9 Section 2 Physical Plant .......................................................................................................... 11 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 11 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................. 11 Track Extension .................................................................................................................... 11 Special Track Considerations ............................................................................................... 12 Land ...................................................................................................................................... 13 Buildings and Facilities......................................................................................................... 13 Track Maintenance................................................................................................................ 17 Buildings and Grounds Maintenance .................................................................................... 17 Section 3 Equipment ............................................................................................................... 18 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 18 Equipment Needs ...................................................................................................................... 18 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................. 19 Motive Power ........................................................................................................................ 19 Rolling Stock ........................................................................................................................ 21 Maintenance of Way Equipment .......................................................................................... 22 Non-railroad Equipment ....................................................................................................... 23 Section 4 Financial .................................................................................................................. 24 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 24 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................. 24 Sources of funds .................................................................................................................... 24 Use of Funds ......................................................................................................................... 27 Financial Management .......................................................................................................... 30 Financial (Development) Committee .................................................................................... 31 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 31 Section 5 Marketing and Presentation .................................................................................... 32 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 32 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................. 33 Advertising ............................................................................................................................ 33 Exhibits ................................................................................................................................. 33 Docent Program/Tour Guide................................................................................................. 34 Interpretive Displays ............................................................................................................. 34 Publications & Handouts ...................................................................................................... 34 Presentation Programs .......................................................................................................... 34 Educational Outreach ............................................................................................................ 35 2 A Marketing Committee or Designated Marketing Person .................................................. 35 Keeping It All Up-to-date ..................................................................................................... 35 Section 6 Personnel ................................................................................................................. 36 Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 36 Detailed Discussion .................................................................................................................