Group tour ideas

[Seaboard92]

Hey guys. Well now I have signed onto a mainline steam engine restoration and been out in charge if my field excursions and fundraising. And when I was thinking about fundraising I thought maybe some fun events like tours of the part of the company most haven't seen. If I could get the approval of the companies to host them.

My ideas were CAF USA with the Viewliner II order. Chicago Union station behind the scenes. Beech grove. Maybe some others on the east coast. And charge fifty dollars for each tour. Would people buy into that. And what places might I have forgotten. And do you think amtrak would be willing to open their doors to group tours. I would tell you the engine we are restoring but I'm not allowed to say till we reach an agreement from the city. And they want our business plan. And this is part of my contribution. Thanks guys. Hope that made sense

 

[CCC1007]

Please check out the Boeing assembly line tour in Everett, Washington. That is a tour that I personally enjoyed.

 

[Seaboard92]

I will have to check that out. I've taken two tours of the BMW plant in Greer SC. One was the normal tour. And one was especially for our group of their new plant next door. That they don't take people into.

 

[neroden]

I suspect, based on basic psychology, that CAF will not allow ANY tours. They've had so much trouble with both the Amtrak and Cincinnati orders that they're feeling quite embarassed right now and probably don't want any outsiders watching.

If things settle down and they get an order which is going *well* they might allow a tour.

 

[railiner]

Have you talked to Amtrak about your plans? And mentioned that you plan to charge a fee (as a fund-raiser for a non-profit organization)?

Some companies might have a problem with giving complimentary tours under those circumstances...not sure, but definitely explore that with them beforehand...

That said, I would be interested in touring such "behind-the-scene's" places normally off-limits, and would be willing to pay for a worthwhile tour...

 

[me_little_me]

If you are looking at train-related tours, what about the NC Transportation Museum in Spencer, NC (near Salisbury station)? As a state museum, they might be amenable.

I would think that an aircraft factory or auto plant would be far fetched as a fundraiser or a place of interest for a train buff. If this kind of thing would appeal, so would any museum, factory or other point of interest within walking distance of a train station would qualify.

Your plans, however, are confusing. Are you expecting people to in multiple areas to all go to some location (e.g. Beech Grove) to a fundraising tour you have so you can raise money for your local project? Or are you looking at having those local to you buy tickets from you and conducted by you on a a tour in another city? If the latter, is the tour cost independent of their travel costs? Will people buy such tickets if the travel is expensive?

 

[Seaboard92]

I'm thinking of just the tour cost. We wouldn't provide transportation at all. So pretty much people local to one area. So for Beech Grove anyone who buys a ticket has to find their way there as we aren't in a posisition to do anything