Reading and Northern and the Public Goods/Freerider Problem.

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

In economic terms, running a steam locomotive produces "public goods", which are:

1.) Nonrivalrous (one person's enjoyment doesn't preclude another's)

2.) Nonexcludible (the producer cannot restrict access to the benefits of the products)

(Paul A. Samuelson is usually credited as the first economist to develop the theory of public goods, in his classic 1954 paper The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure)

He was a pretty good economist before he became a Soviet apologist.

In this case the "the free rider problem" (or in this case the free watcher) is the spectacle of operation.

the Reading and Northern is attempting to use the honor system to capture the public good associated with the spectacle of operation.

http://www.rbmnrr.com/steam

Ray Reter · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:37 am

That's an appropriate request. I remember some time ago when a railfan organization suggested that chasers/photographers support the operating organization by purchasing a ticket for a trip or at least provide the sponsoring organization a free copy (with free use permission) of one of their photos for use in future promotional ads/publications as a token of appreciation. --- Ray

HudsonL · **Joined:** Mon May 24, 2010 10:22 am **Posts:** 548

I recall hearing about a excursion operator that sold a "Chaser Pack", that consisted of a map and a schedule for a nominal fee.

-Hudson

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

"That's an appropriate request. "

I have no problem with it-that it's being directed to the good crew in Minersville, makes it even better.

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

I would wonder what sort of liability this might open the railroad up to.

Frank J. DeStefano · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 12:24 pm

Lincoln Penn wrote:

I would wonder what sort of liability this might open the railroad up to.

I'm curious by what you mean here. The railroad is not encouraging inappropriate or hazardous railfan behavior through this press release (trespass, climbing on equipment, etc), so Im not sure of how this relates to legal matters.

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

Frank J. DeStefano wrote:

Lincoln Penn wrote:

I would wonder what sort of liability this might open the railroad up to.

I'm curious by what you mean here. The railroad is not encouraging inappropriate or hazardous railfan behavior through this press release (trespass, climbing on equipment, etc), so Im not sure of how this relates to legal matters.

I am referring to encouraging chasing, providing maps, etc. If someone follows the provided map and gets into some kind of accident, or reads about the event and finds out that freeriders are encouraged, and gets into some kind of furball, who is he going to sue?

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2605

I suspect that a check provides information the R & N wants.

Otherwise, they'd just say contribute directly to Railway Restoration Project 113.

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:27 pm

Lincoln Penn wrote:

I am referring to encouraging chasing, providing maps, etc. If someone follows the provided map and gets into some kind of accident, or reads about the event and finds out that freeriders are encouraged, and gets into some kind of furball, who is he going to sue?

Has anyone successfully sued the maker of a map or GPS for providing information that got them stranded, or even got someone killed? How about the library that may have let them look at maps? How about suing the National Park Service for daring to let people anywhere near a giant cliff in Arizona?

You can "maybe" yourself into never coming out from under the bed every morning.