> Steamtown needs people to come to the park.
> They aren't in a position to be spending money to travel far from home
> unless CASH comes up front, expect
> Moscow, Pa to be as far as they go.

My idea was not to take Steamtown around the nation. As neat as that would be, the topic is the lack of host RR's for steam among the class-1's.

My idea was for Steamtown to host an operational "big engine" at Scranton, such as when Milwaukee 261 was there in '95-'96. A different engine each year from all the ones around the country that are "all dressed up and no place to go".

I know it's not the same as running out of their own hometown, but if the hometown railroad won't let you run, it would be an option.

Would this not be a great way to cut down on the maintenance costs for 2317 and 3254 ?
Plus they would get to have an American engine running instead of Canadian (for those who are bothered by that).

Hi Guys and Galls,

Who says Steamtown has to host anything? Why not form a non-profit corporation to do the planning and be the go between with the RR's and let all participating groups that want to run mainline steam have one person on the board as well as participating RR's and Amtrack. Use the board to do all the logistics of the runs and schedules, too. Use the runs to promote rail preservation as well as the railroad industry in general, by running tv ads and stuff advertising the excursions and the host railroads. Either use Amtrak cars or let the corporation own 15 or 20 cars to use that would be Amtrak certified. (amfleet cars would look kinda wierd behind a steamer) The corp could take care of all insurance and liability issues with the RR's. Of course this is a rough idea and I don't know where the funding would come from, but I think it could work. It would take a lot of cooperation between groups, though. Anyway, it was just a thought. Have fun!!!

Stuart

gnufe@apex.net

> Who says Steamtown has to host anything? Why not form a non-profit corporation to do the
planning and be the go between with the RR's
etc.
> Anyway, it was just a
> thought. Have fun!!!
> Stuart

Steamtown was my prime example, since they are set-up to host, service and run steam on a (former) main-line.

The idea could also work at other similar locations across the country . . .such as TVRM, IRM, KRM, any museum with a decent hunk of track.

The whole point was to suggest an alternative to running on the class-1's, for all the volunteer groups around the USA that have brought "big engines" back from the dead, and can't get to see them run.

If a new "steering committee" will help get (or keep) steam out on the mainlines, I'm all for it,
and I'll be there.