Age of Steam Roundhouse web site

You should have said IF they open the site to the public. Remember, this is a private project being built with private funds. Given the litigious nature of our society, I'm not at all sure that the Jerry will ever open the roundhouse to the public. By invitation? Maybe. But walk-in visitors? I don't think so.

I don't see why Mr. Jacobson would never sell guided tours through his facility. If

he's saving all these wonderful locomotives, in such a nifity setting, what's the point if no one ever gets to see them? Didn't I read that the whole thing is set up so it's preserved long after he is gone? That would say that he wants all this to be seen by somebody someday. I can understand you can't just walk in an industrial site to see what's going on, I don't think CSX would understand if I walked into the locomotive shop at Cumberland.

But I'll bet when the heavy work is done, and all is settled, some sort of tours will be set up. Safe for the public, and a money maker, hopefully, for the future of his works.

Until then, however, the public need to realize that it is an industrial site, and you just can't walk in and browse, it is privately owned and also unsafe for the general public. 

Ed Mullan 

Certainly can't speak for JJJ, but perhaps his goal is allow the public to see his locomotives under steam, running and alive.  

I also believe a goal is to keep the trades and knowledge alive.  If there isn't an effort to keep the human knowledge surrounding these devices, there won't be any of them running in 50-100 years.  

And I hope for a model that his operation is a hub of focus for smaller locomotives, that can be trucked in and out, that are leased to tourist operations around the eastern US with the heavy 1472 day work being done at the round house where skilled labor in the trades can flourish in a secure fiscal and physical environment.

Bob

Walk-ins would definitely be a no-no in an operation like this, but if scheduled tours were established and properly regulated by way of strictly-enforced rules and proper training of the staff giving the tours, then I can't see liability being too big of an issue to overcome.  And they could also make people sign waivers (like I had to do for pretty much every industrial tour I've ever taken).  Charging a fee for the tour could also help offset the expenses involved and also keep the casual curious types at bay.

The Strasburg Railroad does tours of their shop, and Disney World does a "behind the scenes" tour of their railroad operations.  If they can do it (with as many people they have to deal with on a daily basis), any operation can do it.  The key is to be in control of the situation and aware of the environment (keeping people away from potentially dangerous areas and situations).

Andy

A quote from the site

We will announce specific dates and times when our roundhouse construction site will be open for public visitation, but the site will remain closed to the public at all other times.

 and

Where We Are Going...

Wishing to share with others Jerry’s passion for the steam locomotive, we at the Age of Steam Roundhouse seek to:

1. Preserve the steam locomotives, historic diesels, passenger cars and other railroad relics in the collection of Jerry Joe Jacobson.
2. Construct a full-scale, operating and realistic roundhouse and back shop to overhaul, repair and maintain Jerry’s rolling stock.
3. Fire-up and operate the steam locomotives on non-passenger carrying freight trains.
4. Display and interpret this railroad heritage for the edification, enlightenment and entertainment of future generations of Americans.

So I would say in some future time, it will be open at times for the public to see but they are very busy getting the locos unloaded and under cover.

Charlie