Kenneth Finnegan

I volunteer at a railroad museum, and we're getting to host the Union Pacific 4014 steam locomotive in a few weeks. https://www.wplives.org/news_items/2024_Union_Pacific_Big_Boy_4014.html

They priced the bloody special event admission tickets at $20 for the day, and they're ecstatic that they've already sold 900 tickets online.

Please, for the love of god, reply to this toot with what you think the appropriate admission price should be for this event. Some of the board members are already complaining about $20/person being too expensive for getting to see the freaking UP 4014.

UP 4014 Celebration - July 2024

Jun 30, 2024 at 8:28pmWeb
Show threadKenneth FinneganJun 30, 2024
Our museum has also not had anywhere close to 1,000 people on property in about 20 years, so I'm sitting here as the admin in charge of the guest WiFi network desperately looking for any spare bags of popcorn kernels.
Show threadPhil Dennis-JordanJun 30, 2024
@kwf Yeah that seems a tad on the cheap side for the US. I’m used to paying almost that much for a “regular” steam day at a railway museum in Europe. I’d expect more in the US or for a (genuinely) special event. Especially if you structure your pricing such that families with kids don’t get fleeced.
Show threadKenneth FinneganJun 30, 2024
@pmdj People are going to spend more on lunch in town than on admission. I'm dying
Show threadmorganJun 30, 2024
@kwf no one turned away for lack of funds
Show threadKielJun 30, 2024
@kwf is “i have no idea and trust y’all” a useful answer? because it’s true. if it were a permanent exhibit then maybe that’d feel high but it sounds like it isn’t so it seems perfectly reasonable. not everyone has to go to every thing.
Show threadChuckJun 30, 2024
@kwf Definitely feels low, if they let me drive it I'd expect the ticket to be north of $300 😆 (inside joke, this Museum is GREAT and has in the past let you drive several of their engines, I still have my t-shirt!)
Show threadMichael K JohnsonJun 30, 2024

@kwf https://lsrm.org/ is $14/day with the DMIR #227 Baldwin M-3 "Yellowstone" 2-8-8-4 on static display, not an operating model. (It's fairly similar to the 4-8-8-4 Big Boy.)

https://duluthtrains.com/excursions/#zephyr $22–44 for their shortest excursions. But they aren't running the #227.

Welcome to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Lake Superior Railroad Museum

Open Daily from 10am to 5pm, you can explore the  impressive collection of historic railroad equipment that built Minnesota and our country. The museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms at yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892. From immaculately restored locomotives and rolling stock, to exciting events and exhibits …

Lake Superior Railroad Museum
Show threadRooroo YanJun 30, 2024
@kwf I spent that much on a few snacks from the gas station just now. Ignore the crude spuds lol
Show threadMarkAtMicrochipJul 1, 2024

@kwf maybe it’s just the east coast in me, but I don’t expect anything less than $50 to a decent museum.

https://essexsteamtrain.com/train-boat/schedules-fares/

Schedules & Fares

Schedules & Fares 2024 Schedule May 11 - June 16: Saturday & Sundays  AND Monday May 27  (Not operating Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) June 20 - September 2: Thursday - Mondays  (Not operating Tuesday and Wednesday) September 6 - September 29: Friday - Sunday  (Not operating Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) October 3 -

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat
Show threadKenneth FinneganJul 1, 2024
@MarkAtMicrochip that was exactly the number I was saying
Show threadJonathan Wright Jul 1, 2024
@kwf dang this sounds awesome. I love steam locomotives...