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| Pennsy E-8's https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10364 |
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| Author: | Jay Micheals [ Tue Jul 27, 2004 7:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Pennsy E-8's |
As I was traveling home to Providence yesterday on Amtrak I was lucky enough to see Mr. Levin's E's coupled to an SW-1500 outside his shop, no doubt being groomed for the Buckeye Limited trip to Trainfest. I was wondering if Mr. Levin would be kind enough to provide some insite into what it takes to run a trip like this. There has been significant discussion concerning OC's efforts to get the steam engines preped for the event, but nothing mentioned on how you accomplish your "thing". I'm very much into classic cars and own a restored 50's vintage Caddy which is a handful to take out for a summer ride to a car show 25 miles from my home. It seems to cost more standing still im my garage all winter than when it goes. I can't imagine driving it all the way to Trainfest. Best of luck on your trip, I wish I could go but I have to work. JJMjr@comcast.net |
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| Author: | Bennett Levin [ Tue Jul 27, 2004 10:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pennsy E-8's |
After I get released from the psycho's couch I would be glad to answer for question in greater detail.But here is the short version! There are four essential elements that go into the trip and one element that is harder to define. 1. A Host and/or Destination that is either viable or tickles either Eric's or my imagination. In this case Jason worked hard to put on a good show and Jerry was an enthusiastic host. What started out to be something which we thought would have wide appeal turned out to be something totally different when the railfan community learned that the 765 would not be completed and learned, without ever being told the reason, that the 1225 was a "no show". The absence of the two "big" steam engines cost a lot of ridership and a few cars which inturn drove the price into a very high range. The excursion really became salable in the rare mileage genre' and we soon entered the twilight zone of trying to keep enough cars on the train to make it work and at the same time getting enough passengers to make it attractive to the car owners. When the two "big steamers" pulled out we had to make a decision if we were going to abort the trip. That decision was made based upon three criteria. (A) We felt it was important to the entire event that we make it to Dennison to support Jerry, Jason, and the OC team that was trying to stitch together what promised to be a terrific weekend in spite of the dissappointment in not having the 765 and 1225. (B)The need to take advantage of the very gracious offer by NS to allow the train to run over some pretty rarely accessed track. (C) and finally the fact that Eric and I thought it would be great to run on the Panhandle, make the righthand turn at COLSAN (now COLSON) bl0w through Crestline, trnasverse the curved bridge at Massillon and to let a new generation see what it was like in days of old. 2. The second element is the hospitality of the freight carrier. In this case NS has gone out of their way to support the Festival and provide the infrasture and support to allow us to run off a normal Amtrak route. 3. A cadre of car owners who wanted to go and were willing to take the economic risk to make the train successful. And a pool of railfans who are willing to pay for space which really is the underlying grease that makes it happen. 4. The resources to prepare for all rigors of a 1500 mile round trip; 1100 miles as an Amtrak operated train and the remainder of the miles as an OC Special. We started to prepare the locomotive several weeks ago. The work included a complete mechanical overview of the engines with any component which we deemed as a potential problem being replaced. The electrical system was completely tested and contactors and other components were changed out. We changed hydraulic lines. The running gear was completely gone over and new brake shoes installed. All the electronics were tested. We replaced some of the cooling system piping especially the size restrictions at the Ogontz valves. Last summer we reworked the electrical portion of the cooling system. There is an ongoing program to continually evaluate the locomotives to insure that they are reliable beyond any reasonable expectation Tomorrow the locomotives will be washed and fueled, and Thursday they will be delivered to Amtrak. The final issue which is harder to define is the passion and committment to undertake the planning, as well as the logistics including servicing of the train and locomotives while they are in Ohio. Some would call it "Passion", others "Insanity"; however hopefully everyone will get a measure of enjoyment and the Dennison Museum will be able to raise some serious money. When I think of the 18 hour days and the effort that Eric has made.....I ask....Why?? v-scarpitti@att.net |
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| Author: | Howard P. [ Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pennsy E-8's |
> After I get released from the psycho's couch > I would be glad to answer for question in > greater detail.But here is the short > version! > When I think of the 18 hour days and the > effort that Eric has made.....I ask....Why?? When you see the smiles on all the faces at trackside, when you see the glorious images of those two recreating "the way it was" when E8s roamed the PRR, when you sit in the right-hand seat for mile after flawless mile, well, THAT'S why!! What a great job you two have done with those gals-- they might just steal the show from the steam power!!! Railroad Museum of New England hpincus@mindspring.com |
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| Author: | trainlawyer [ Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Dennison Trip v Sailboat |
To paraphrase the closing song from "The Mickey Mouse Club", Why? Because we like to!" Almost the same day that I got a message that Brother Levin's trip had been approved and I was trying to decide not whether but how we were going to work it in to both budget and schedule, Significant Other and I received another message. This one began "Dr. Sherrie _____ and Mr. John _____ request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage ... Saturday, July 31, 2004 6:00pm On the Beach, Malibu California..." What I am sure will be in the top 10 most memorable conversations with Significant Other ended with a very clear statement of "No, you will not get an afternoon flight from Cleveland and grab a cab from LAX!!" The end result is that while several of you will be privileged to ride and watch trains acting as God intended, I will have the consolation prize of spending a long weekend in Malibu with beautiful lady and probably take a sloop out to Catalina on Sunday. (That is the other form of transport that God intended.) Note for record: She is not the consolation prize - she would also have been in Dennison. I believe that the reason that the Levins are able to arrange the to arrange the trips that they do and obtain a degree of cooperation from the “real railroads” which is unprecedented these days is that they are taken seriously as businessmen, not railfans. Juniata is considered a serious business as a rebuilding and leasing concern, not a hobby. Both Bennet and Eric have, as individuals, a well-deserved reputation for knowing what they are doing. When they put a trip together the equipment works and does not have failures in awkward places, the routes and schedules are realistic, and the economics are sound. Most everyone on this board knows, or has lived, horror stories of what happens when any one of these factors is not the case. I have been involved both professionally and as a volunteer in planning and working excursions since I was a grad student at Rutgers. (In fact my late wife and I met on such a trip about five million years ago.) The amount of time needed to make such things work is phenomenal. The planning and prep time to riding time ratio can easily exceed 25 to 1. I doubt that the trips alone would allow Juniata to function. The trips are a labor of love that benefits from the business. Bennet’s use of the words “passion” and “insanity” are both appropriate though I would argue that he has no need for a shrink. (Significant Other just looked over my shoulder and suggested he and I could get a group discount.) Significant other was introduced to Bride- and Groom-to-be over the telephone several evenings ago and in the course of the conversation mentioned that I could have been in Ohio with some smelly old steam engines. Groom-to-be responded with a minor expletive followed with, “That is this weekend isn’t it.” If I can miss this to be at his wedding, he damn well better. It back to what I said in the opening – We’re having fun. Enjoy it guys. Wish I was going with you. Eric, Bennet, et al - Good Sailing GME gmedwardsesq@juno.com |
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| Author: | David [ Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:24 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Pennsy E-8's |
> After I get released from the psycho's couch > I would be glad to answer for question in > greater detail.But here is the short > version! > There are four essential elements that go > into the trip and one element that is harder > to define. > 1. A Host and/or Destination that is either > viable or tickles either Eric's or my > imagination. In this case Jason worked hard > to put on a good show and Jerry was an > enthusiastic host. What started out to be > something which we thought would have wide > appeal turned out to be something totally > different when the railfan community learned > that the 765 would not be completed and > learned, without ever being told the reason, > that the 1225 was a "no show". The > absence of the two "big" steam > engines cost a lot of ridership and a few > cars which inturn drove the price into a > very high range. The excursion really became > salable in the rare mileage genre' and we > soon entered the twilight zone of trying to > keep enough cars on the train to make it > work and at the same time getting enough > passengers to make it attractive to the car > owners. When the two "big > steamers" pulled out we had to make a > decision if we were going to abort the trip. > That decision was made based upon three > criteria. (A) We felt it was important to > the entire event that we make it to Dennison > to support Jerry, Jason, and the OC team > that was trying to stitch together what > promised to be a terrific weekend in spite > of the dissappointment in not having the 765 > and 1225. (B)The need to take advantage of > the very gracious offer by NS to allow the > train to run over some pretty rarely > accessed track. (C) and finally the fact > that Eric and I thought it would be great to > run on the Panhandle, make the righthand > turn at COLSAN (now COLSON) bl0w through > Crestline, trnasverse the curved bridge at > Massillon and to let a new generation see > what it was like in days of old. > 2. The second element is the hospitality of > the freight carrier. In this case NS has > gone out of their way to support the > Festival and provide the infrasture and > support to allow us to run off a normal > Amtrak route. > 3. A cadre of car owners who wanted to go > and were willing to take the economic risk > to make the train successful. And a pool of > railfans who are willing to pay for space > which really is the underlying grease that > makes it happen. > 4. The resources to prepare for all rigors > of a 1500 mile round trip; 1100 miles as an > Amtrak operated train and the remainder of > the miles as an OC Special. We started to > prepare the locomotive several weeks ago. > The work included a complete mechanical > overview of the engines with any component > which we deemed as a potential problem being > replaced. The electrical system was > completely tested and contactors and other > components were changed out. We changed > hydraulic lines. The running gear was > completely gone over and new brake shoes > installed. All the electronics were tested. > We replaced some of the cooling system > piping especially the size restrictions at > the Ogontz valves. Last summer we reworked > the electrical portion of the cooling > system. There is an ongoing program to > continually evaluate the locomotives to > insure that they are reliable beyond any > reasonable expectation > Tomorrow the locomotives will be washed and > fueled, and Thursday they will be delivered > to Amtrak. > The final issue which is harder to define is > the passion and committment to undertake the > planning, as well as the logistics including > servicing of the train and locomotives while > they are in Ohio. Some would call it > "Passion", others > "Insanity"; however hopefully > everyone will get a measure of enjoyment and > the Dennison Museum will be able to raise > some serious money. > When I think of the 18 hour days and the > effort that Eric has made.....I ask....Why?? I'm primaraly a steam fan, but the Pennsy is my road, so I'm anxious to se the E8s. Somehow thanks just doesn't seem enough to say to those who have and are doing so much to make this event happen.Thanks to the OC,Ross Rowland,all the unnamed working in the background, and the NS for letting the E8s to run. LL675@aol.com |
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