Trying to come up with ways of raising money, it was suggested that we rent our rail speeders to the public. Naturally, we would do this when there were no trains operating. Is there a reason why this could not be a viable program, that I don't know about?
Thanks

Nevada Northern Railway Museum
nnry1@mwpower.net

> I doubt that your isnurance carrier would be very happy with this, unless a qualified operator is included in the rental.


artschwartz@sprintmail.com

>> I doubt that your isnurance carrier would be very happy with this, unless a qualified operator is included in the rental.

Not to mention the railroads. Very few of them will allow privately owned speeders on their tracks, and those few who do probably won't when they find out a bunch of inexperienced people will be operating them.

We had an incident here where I live about three years ago when the speeder came around the corner and hit a tie plate which someone stuck between the gap in the rails. Luckily nobody was hurt, but here is the result of the accident. Needless to say that was the last speeder run on that shortline.

I would think this could be a good and popular program if a qualified volunteer were aboard each car to act as a pilot and instructor (and occasional mechanic). It would be a good idea to send a patrol car ahead of each group of motorcars to watch out for obstacles. Just sending out novices without a qualified person on board is probably not a good idea, however. Properly done, this should be an inexpensive way to raise funds and provide a unique experience for patrons.

The group at the link below started their operation with motorcars. Not sure if that is still their main way of operating or not.

> Trying to come up with ways of raising
> money, it was suggested that we rent our
> rail speeders to the public. Naturally, we
> would do this when there were no trains
> operating. Is there a reason why this could
> not be a viable program, that I don't know
> about?
> Thanks


http://www.railroadmichigan.com/smich.html
ryarger@rypn.org

I want to second what Bob said. NARCOA has potential operators take an admittedly pretty easy open book test, then a mentor rides with the cantidate on a few runs - figure around 50 - 100 miles worth. If, in the mentor's opinion, the operator is safe, *then* you get your operator's card.
What I've seen - people operate too fast for conditions. Rule is, you should be able to stop in half the range of vision. The operator should have been able to stop WAY before hitting the tie plate. And should have been looking for things like that. Wet rail, slow WAY down.

A slight deviation in the track which wouldn't phase a loke may make a light speeder jump the track - this is from direct personal experience. When speeders leave the rail, they generally make the infamous "fairmont turn" - pivot around the front wheel that lands outside the track. This generally ejects the rider on the outside of the turn. There has been alot of debate about requiring seatbelts on NARCOA runs because of this.

People follow too closely. Speeders generally don't have rubber tires, and steel on steel is a slow stop.

People blow grade crossings - as in run through without looking. Autos always have the right of way. If for no other reason, they are much larger, heavier, and better protected. And not looking for speeders.

I have no doubt the average visitor couldn't operate our M-19, and it would get really frustrating - retard the spark, hand crank the car, advance the spark, turn in the needle valve, advance the throttle, *ease* in on the belt tension. Many folks have never driven a manual transmission vehicle, and "clutch" is a foriegn concept. With a transmission equipped car, think stripped gears.

I have, though, let a visitor run the car with me in it, in position regulate the speed or to kill the ignition and grab the brake. And restart the car when they kill it. Those that have, really had a ball, and hopefully, left with a fond spot in their heart for our museum. This is the only way I see a "rent-a-speeder" program working. Inerestingly, most folks I've given rides to, do not want to operate the car, they just want to ride. Maybe that's all it takes, sell speeder rides.

I was also allowed to operate the speeder at Alexandria - a heavy A-4 car. It took some mentoring on the part of a very nice tour guide for me to get the hang of the controls. One of many fond memories of a truly great place.

Rudd

rudd@nospamcogdellmendrala.com

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad did a pretty successful 2-day event in Titusville, PA where the NARCOA group 'sold' speeder rides as a benefit to the Oil Creek Railway Historical Society. I think the deal was that running the short public 'speeder trips' was part of the deal for the members-only longer mainline runs - sort of show up the next day as a fundraiser event as part of the deal to run on the railroad. I was on it with my three boys - they all loved it. Had to sign an insurance release, and the donations were made payable to the society, so I think I have my facts straight here. It was a fairly high-volume operation with 'trains' of about 15 speeders running a 5-mile route, also allowing hand-flagging of the road crossings en-route. One more comment - most of the owners of the speeders aren't necessarily real happy with the public tinkering with their machines - I know I wouldn't be. So there is a way to make money here for a nonprofit - just do your planning.



randygustafson@stoneconsulting.com

During the summer of 1982, when I was helping to revive the Graham County Railroad in western North Carolina, we were running tourist trips on weekends over a portion of the line with a caboose pulled by our SW-8 diesel. When only a few people showed up, we often offered them a ride on our motorcar in lieu of the train, which they generally seemed to enjoy quite a bit. In a sense, this is the same routine as done by "real" railroads when an entire passenger train wasn't warranted and was replaced by a gas-electric.

K4s1361@hotmail.com

MODERATOR'S NOTE: A post from an Interchange reader "Rob" (no email address) appeared here which included an image link. The owner of the image has contacted me and expressed his desire that other Web sites, including RyPN, not "deep link" to display the image outside the context in which it is presented on the owner's Web site. I have chosen to honor his request. Below please find the full original text of Rob's message with the image link removed.

__________________________

>> I doubt that your isnurance carrier would be very happy with this, unless a qualified operator is included in the rental.

Not to mention the railroads. Very few of them will allow privately owned speeders on their tracks, and those few who do probably won't when they find out a bunch of inexperienced people will be operating them.

We had an incident here where I live about three years ago when the speeder came around the corner and hit a tie plate which someone stuck between the gap in the rails. Luckily nobody was hurt, but here is the result of the accident. Needless to say that was the last speeder run on that shortline.

eledbetter@rypn.org

The message was from Rob Sterne of the Elgin County museum in St. Thomas, Canada. The speeder was operated by Ken Jones, who is a superintendent on the railroad on which the incident occured.

Peter Osanu

> MODERATOR'S NOTE: A post from an Interchange
> reader "Rob" (no email address)
> appeared here which included an image link.
> The owner of the image has contacted me and
> expressed his desire that other Web sites,
> including RyPN, not "deep link" to
> display the image outside the context in
> which it is presented on the owner's Web
> site. I have chosen to honor his request.
> Below please find the full original text of
> Rob's message with the image link removed.

> __________________________

> Not to mention the railroads. Very few of
> them will allow privately owned speeders on
> their tracks, and those few who do probably
> won't when they find out a bunch of
> inexperienced people will be operating them.

> We had an incident here where I live about
> three years ago when the speeder came around
> the corner and hit a tie plate which someone
> stuck between the gap in the rails. Luckily
> nobody was hurt, but here is the result of
> the accident. Needless to say that was the
> last speeder run on that shortline.


posanu@hotmail.com

I'm hear to tell ya, my motorcar ain't for rent and never will be! I think this is one of the worst suggestions I've ever heard!

I've been an active owner / operator for 15 years and a certifired event coordinator for 12 years and NARCOA would not support this idea for one moment.

The motorcar hobby has enough people who have 'bought' their way in and have little, to no interest in railroads, other than the fact they can be unique and ride the rails. It is a unique hobby and it needs to protected and preserved from bad ideas, such as this one. This hobby should not be mis-treated like the ATV hobby has been, it's become a real nuisance because every idiot has one! "It has an engine, therefore, I must own one" philosophy is a growing concern, the serious guys in the hobby know what I'm talking about.

And as far as a volunteer to ride along, count me out! I didn't pour countless hours into restorations, research and travel, just to let someone rent it out, on a whim. NARCOA doesn't need money, it's not about money at all and it would not help promote the hobby positively. People like me, are in the hobby beacause we want to be and have a genuine interest, not just beacuse I can. I've helped several people get into the hobby, heck I even performed a complete, groud up, restoration for a friend, but those folks "wanted it". They have the genuine interest and are know, seriously involved in the hobby.

I don't normally respond to such sub-moronic comments, but this case I had to make an exception.

Bruce Carpenter
Wapakoneta, Ohio

bnsf89@bright.net