Finding the WW&F on Facebook

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Grand Opening of the Mountain Extension photo album, parts 1 and 2 have been posted.

As has been noted elsewhere, interest in the Trout Brook project has been setting records. Everyone who likes/shares a news post, contributes funds or just tells a friend about WW&F events helps the museum achieve new levels of preservation.  The Grand Opening was not just a day to introduce the Mountain Extension but was one of the best WW&F reunions in recent years.  We look forward to the Annual Picnic and Photographers Special adding to the good times for visitors and good publicity for the railroad.   

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

An indication of the level of interest on the Grand Opening of the Mountain Extension is the number of people who have viewed our news and event posts as of this morning.

* Photo albums of the Grand Opening - (Parts 1 and 2) have reached 38,146 people in just 4 days.

* WW&F news photos, general information and event posts have reached 2,514,674 in the last 30 days. 

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

The Great War photo album has been posted on the WW&F FB page.  Thanks to everyone who made the event such a success.

[Ed Lecuyer]

The WW&F is now the "Most Liked" railroad in Maine. This morning, we surpassed Amtrak's Downeaster with 21,076 "likes" on Facebook!

See the attached report (from Facebook) to see where we land against similar railroad and transportation attractions in New England.

Thanks to Stewart for keeping our content fresh and engaging. We have a world-wide following thanks to his efforts. We had less than 1000 "likes" on our Facebook page before he started posting photos (and videos) there 8 years ago.

Now watch out RR Museum of New England - you're next!

[Graham Buxton]

This morning, we surpassed Amtrak's Downeaster with 21,076 "likes" on Facebook!

Of course, Amtrak  is at a significant [not easily rectified] disadvantage -- after all, Amtrak is running on a superfluous gauge! 

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Thanks Ed but I can't take much credit, it's a team effort with a number of contributors of news, photos, maps and videos.  Just like the content of our excellent newsletter (thanks to Bill Reidy), everyone who is on a crew whether track, train, shop, carpentry or other contributes to the content.  The end game has always been to provide an on-line place for people to become interested in what we are doing.  Interest hopefully leads to people joining the museum and then contributing in whatever way they want. 

[Bill Sample]

Uh oh - I'd better warn the troops down here in RMNE and Naug Land that the WW&F is nipping at our heels!

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

With special thanks to our news and events team, our page is now followed by 31,132 people.  Every time a comment is posted, or a photo shared it helps promote the railway.   

The recent events such as lavender trains along with our historic representations get attention and bring people in.  Ed and Steve have done well promoting the WW&F.  Dan had a great idea to have a Kennebec Central / Civil War day where our engine 9 was back-dated to when it operated on the KC as their #4.  Eric and Dan did a wonderful job on the locomotive and the video of "KCRR #4" being turned at Trout Brook Station has been seen by 763,159 people as of Monday 7/22/24. 

Once again thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of the WW&F this year!

[Ed Lecuyer]

Piggybacking on what Stewart said...

Looking at the top 20 Facebook posts from the last 3 years:

There are over 6 MILLION views of videos showing the turntable at Trout Brook station. The most popular of these videos - was one of just spinning the turntable with nothing on it, accounts for half of that total.

There are 2.5 MILLION views of videos showing a train departing, arriving, or passing through.

The announcement to "Bring trains to Maine up from Africa" reached 55,000 people. Ultimately, primarily through Facebook, we have raised $22,450 to help pay for the hoppers.

Thank you to everyone who likes, shares, or comments on a post. These actions make a real difference in spreading the word about the WW&F locally, nationally, and abroad.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Another milepost - As of today, September 16th, 2024 the WW&F Railway page has more than 34,000 people following it.  This is due to the team that posts news, event information and photos of museum activities.  The dedicated work of train crews, track people, gift shop clerks, maintenance folks, shop volunteers and grounds / building construction crews is highlighted our page which has gotten the attention of railway historians all over the world.

[Bruce Wilson]

Stewart,
When we talked about your million plus view Facebook photo at the Windsor Fair, I definitely wasn't aware of the impact of that. Not being a Facebook guy, I had no idea the exposure the museum has gained through your efforts. You may recall that I complimented the work of the newsletter crews over the years. The writers, editors, photographers and those who in the past spent some hours folding and stamping newsletters on Harry & Clarrisa's kitchen table. In my opinion, there is no rail preservation organization that has so consistently produced a newsletter such as the W.W. & F. Ry. Museum. The incredible growth of the museum is due not only to the newsletter gang (past and present) but to you and your Facebook presence. Well done sir!

[Ed Lecuyer]

ONE MILLION MINUTES!!

The Aug. 29th Facebook post has been viewed a cumulative total of 1,009,892 minutes (and climbing.) That means the collective Internet has been watching loco 9 spin on the Sheepscot turntable for over 700 days!

Posts like these boost our page likes and overall presence on Facebook, which helps our outreach (worldwide), ticket sales, and fundraising efforts. For example, 450 new people have "liked" the WW&F Facebook page in the last 30 days, making our page more "liked" than all other Maine railroad attractions or similar museums; and the 6th most popular in all of New England.

Great job Team WW&F.

[Mike Fox]

I was looking for the Like button to this post then remembered where I was reading it..

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Bruce,

Thanks for the comments but it's a team effort.  I produce the news and Steve and Ed post the events.  All WW&F information is important, members and fans like to see updates on projects and mothers / families make plans by viewing the events we offer through the year.

Bill Reidy has done a great job with the newsletter, it's really a top-notch news magazine.  There are things covered that are not on FB or the web site and this is intentional, we hope they will search other sources.  When people become interested in the railway via the Facebook page or web site they often want to learn more.  If they follow our progress there's a good chance they will join the museum and we hope they will come to Sheepscot and maybe even volunteer.

[Bruce Wilson]

Thanks for setting me straight Stewart. If there were a printed handbook titled Social Media for Dummies, I'd be stuck on page one and relying on one of you to tell me I had it upside down. Congratulations  to Bill, Ed and Stewart on your coordination of museum publicity through web and print sources.