You can divide CB&Q fans (or those of any other fallen flag RR) into 2 groups.
The largest (but gowing smaller daily) are those who grew up with the Q: i.e.
they worked for it or Dad or an Uncle did, or they rode Zephyrs or were
trackside or maybe even had a American Flyer Pioneer Zephyr (Lionel did no
favors for Burlington enthusists).
The smaller group, our future, are those under 50 who have no recollections of
the Burlington albeit some surviving bldgs, non-repainted BN equipment, etc.
Or those of any age who follow the Buerlington because of (fill in the blank:
they like Vista Domes/Zephyrs, the rich Q history ranging from 3 track commuter
lines to Colorado n.g. and little branches in the hinterlands, the many books,
models & BRHS publications available, etc.) We have a good "product" to sell
to young men (& women) who have no particular RR-allegiance but do like trains
in general. Our competition is all the other major RR societies.
The old saying is that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a
path to your door. NOT if you don't market it; i.e. the world has to know we
have a better mousetrap ergo a railroad to be a fan &/or modeler and collector
of.
HOW best to promote the Burlington? When I speak to our overseas mbrs (who
obviously had no physical ties to the Q) or our under-40 mbrs (unfortunately a
small group) they like the Q because it was colorful, innovative, offers a wide
range of operating scenarios, etc. We need to market ourselves and no better
way than to bring a friend/child/neighbor along on a railfan trip following the
old routes, to a BRHS meet, your layout, loaning a copy of a Corbin, Overton,
Holck, Glick or Spoor book, etc etc.
Stainless steel, domes, great slogans (EW, Way of the Z's, Where nature
Smiles...), still being the 1st name of BNSF, etc are all in our favor; being a
fallen flag for 40 yrs is our albatross. I like to think the glass is still
half full but can we say that in 10 yrs or less? Many hands make light work!
Gerald
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