<<I hate to tell you Ross, the days of running steam excursions without diesel locomotive assistance are just about over... Class 1 railroads and even some shortlines just simply will not let any steam locomotives operate on their trackage with out an diesel locomotive added on. >>

I think that's a bit of an overstatement. The C&TS and D&SNG regularly handle extremely steep grades and heavy trains. Western Maryland Scenic has a steep climb they do unassisted, as well as Cass, Mt. Rainier... the list goes on. Plus, most of the steam tourist RRs around here (east coast) don't use diesel helpers either although many are relatively flat.

Regards,
Trevor H.

The railroads you cite have exclusive use of the trackage they run on, so a breakdown can only interfere with their own tour trains. The situation referred to was one of running an excursion down someone else's track where a breakdown could halt the track owner's revenue-producing freight service.
And when I rode the Western Maryland a couple years ago they had a diesel helper tucked into the train. Inconspicuous somehow, but it was there.

*Did one of them still have the Christmas tinsel left over in it from its short stint on the Gettysburg RR? I ended up helping to "repossess" that car (don't ask), and it arrived back in the Chicago area still with Christmas decor intact!



We could get into endless debate on the cars' conditions; what I was generally referring to was the fact that, for being up to 51 years old and having been in pretty constant use, the cars were/are in a remarkable state of mechanical soundness. As with any old cars (Amtrak's remaining Heritage fleet, anyone?), the age would present issues in regular service, but the fact that other cars in the fleet are now rolling on MARC and VRE must say something for the cars, and not just the outright desperation or tight-fistedness of MARC and VRE to provide seats!

I still think they're about the dumbest thing they could have possibly put behind a Reading T-1 (aside from, say, a Schnaebel car or stagecoaches), but to each his own--crow sauce still waiting.......

I've been told that the single level cars which they've put up for sale are equipped with non-compliant glazing. If that's true then it would somewhat explain thier reasoning. I'd still think it would be worth the investment to fit them with FRA approved glazing and have cars appropriate for the engine vs. those homely as all get out double decker coaches.
As for running mainline steam without a dismal in the consist-it is very doable as long as you have a HEP power car for hotel electric power and are willing to bear the cost of a protect diesel(s) with a crew to run a couple blocks ahead of the steam special as protect power. This is exactly what we did on the 24 trips from Hoboken to Pt. Jervis and it worked perfectly. Seems to me that to go to all the trouble and expense to set up/operate a mainline steam trip and not go the final mile to eliminate the dismal is foolish. There are several good HEP cars around that can be leased and I can't think of any legitimate operating reason why any class1 would object to this arrangement. At least thats how I see it.
Ross Rowland

Per pound, cars pay no revenue. Per pound, riders do. Given the choice between hauling around the weight of one car that carries 80 riders or one car that carries 140 riders, double decker capacity is completely understandable. Besides, all the kids will want to ride upstairs.

dave

Thank you.

As to Ross's post. If I could get them to allow it, we would.

Mike
GPRR