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Did you get any response from phone/e-mail?

They just got a huge rail freight grant from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to rebuild the entire line so that may be why they are suspending service this season, due to the extensive trackwork which would probably necessitate slow orders.

If thats true wouldn't it be nice to put that on the website?

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It is a poorly kept secret that Pioneer has never been very interested in the passenger operation. If I remember correctly they have had that portion of the operation for sale for some time. Considering the economy and the probability of gas prices going up again it is little suprise the 2009 season has been canceled. The suprise may be if the passenger trains ever come back. If not I would take this as a true loss for the industry. If excursion trains can not be justified in a market as full of toruists looking for something to do as Gettysburg where can they be justified?

John Bohon

I would assert that Gettysburg remains a prime location for a tourist railroad operation. In my opinion several things have worked against this line in the past.

I first rode the Getty, as it was knicknemed when the Cornell's owned it, around 1985. Even back then, the cars were dirty and run down enough to leave a lasting impression on an 11 year old. To that end my mother, who so graciously carted me around to so many steam pikes with a smile, still refers to it as "That aweful train in Gettysburg" when we joke about old times.

Flash forward to the near present day. The cars were only marginally nicer and as others pointed out, the whole passenger train seemed to be treated like a red-headed step child by both the railroad and the town itself. Further hampering things was the location of the depot. Only two blocks from downtown, the place might as well be on the moon as far as tourists are concerned. There is very little to entice them over to the depot. One good thing (amongst many) that the Cornell's did do was erect another station a block closer to downtown. That was moved to the ill fated K&K operation years ago though.

The operation needs some work. With a few steps in the right direction, I believe it could be a winner. You'd have to start with a decent looking train, not a primer red hodge podge of run down commuter cars. The days of people riding "just because its a train" are over, the thing has to look apealing.

Next you'd need to build some community ties and win the town over. Run a charity train or two, send out gift baskets and free tee shirts, whatever it takes.

A designated pathway/sidewalk to the depot with perhaps some signs, trees and benches would go a long way to getting people to travel those two long blocks.

If I had money to gamble with, Gettysburg is where I'd place my bet.

Dave Crosby

John -

I didn't realize that Pioneer now ran the line. I would suggest that perhaps their attitude toward tourist type passenger train operations on their freight trackage is not particularly good. I cite two examples:

1. Little River Railroad in White Pigeon, Michigan. LRR now operates out of Coldwater, Michigan over the Indiana Northeastern.

2. Paw Paw, Michigan, where tourist and dinner train operations once were operated by the KLS&C, but no new passenger operation has occurred since Pioneer took over the line.

Les

This may be instructive. . . .

http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_9869451?IA ... ingsun.com

Pioneer has owned the railroad for several years. Officially it is called the Gettysburg and Northern.

I agree with everything Dave said in his post. I have not been there in several years so I can not comment on the status of the equipment today but his discription of the past is right on the money. Clean trains and facilities would greatly improve the visitor experience. Adding one comment, I think this is a line that would benefit from steam operation. People comming to Gettysburg are looking for a historical and possibly educational experience for their kids and themselves. Steam would be an added draw for these folks.

John Bohon

John

I agree completely, a steam operation would be benificial here. I've daydreamed a few times what a real class act could do there, say, hypotheticly a Strasburg satellite operation with the 89 and a few coaches (hey, they're both "burg"s, right?).

Crosby

I agree about Pioneer passenger history. Their West Jersey railroad went all freight before they gave up the lease, many years ago.

The Gettysburg could make themselves a successful operation if they put out a full effort to do so. They have the right location. Refurbishing or replacing the equipment would be a good start, perhaps with a flatcar with seats and a caboose. They could take a lesson from the Kiski Junction Tourist Railway. Look how well maintained their locomotive, flatcar/open air passenger car and caboose are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONRy2oERB5M

A train such as that would not be expensive to acquire or convert to passenger use, and would probably appeal to the riders much more than a old crummy passenger coach would.

Some of us would do anything to be located in an area where potential customers abound, and then there are those such as the Gettysburg that squander the opportunities that exist just outside their door.