Do you need to ride a steam train to make it a worthwhile experience?

I have been pondering this since the OC shut down. Photo frieghts are nothing new, but usually a limited number of photographers pays a large fare and rides the train itself.

In these days of insurance mania, riding is the costly part.

Are there enough buffs out there who would pay an "event" ticket for photo frieghts on a chase-it-yourself basis? Maybe something like a Plandampf where the Ohio Central ran all steam for a weekend on its regular frieghts?

How would that make money for the railroad?

Well...

Imagine if you will that the fictional Railroad Central Lines cannot afford the insurance for thier 2-8-2. They want to keep the engine, so they approach their hometown of Steamville and say that they will runt he 2-8-2 on a week's worth of regular frieght trains as a toruism event for the area if they know thay will take in $100,000 for the week.

Steamville's chamber of commerce likes the idea of people coming to town to chase the steam train, so a plan is hatched in which "chase tickets" will be sold to support the operation.

The goal is to sell 1000 $100 "chase tickets." For the $100, fans will get a package of maps to photospots (some with organized photo lines), access to private lands and yards for photo shoots, night photo shoots, plus discounts at local merchants, hotels and resturants.

Steamville knows there will be freeloaders who will get into all but the limited access areas, but decides that the risk is worth it. The railroad and town agree that if they can get 1000 honest buffs to support the operation, it will be a full success. Steamville's C of C agress to support the railroad with some advertising dollars.

The railroad agrees to run the event if 60% of the tickets are sold at least 6 weeks in advance.

In the end, the town gets a boost of tourism and the railroad gets $100K for operating the 2-8-2 on their regualr revenue frieght train (and a few photo extras).

Can this happen in the real world? Would you pay for the pleasure?

Rob

rdavis@rypn.org

> Are there enough buffs out there who would
> pay an "event" ticket for photo
> frieghts on a chase-it-yourself basis? Maybe
> something like a Plandampf where the Ohio
> Central ran all steam for a weekend on its
> regular frieghts?

I think you are on the right idea, but probably the wrong model. I fear Americans are too--er, shall I say ruggedly individualistic?--to show the degree of communitarian spirit and suppression of raw self-interest the Plandampf model requires.

Instead of the plandampf, I would point to the public charters organized by people like Trains Unlimited Tours and Carl Franz. I think it would be simpler and more practical for the hypothetical railroad to contact several charter organizers and offer to run a steam photo freight. No riders if insurance will not cover it; or, have every participant sign a long, vicious, toothy waiver.

Let the charter organizer do the rest--advertise in the back or Trains and R&R, drum up the business, coordinate the logistics, etc.

This seems to offer the railroad the best financial return with the least financial risk. You might only generate 15 to 30k this way, but you have almost no exposure whatsover.

eledbetter@rypn.org

> Do you need to ride a steam train to make it
> a worthwhile experience?

> Can this happen in the real world? Would you
> pay for the pleasure?
> Rob

It sounds good, I suppose it would be "produced" in much the same way as a scene in a period feature film.

I don't think fans necessarily have to ride, and paying for access is fair. Will doing this really lower the insurance for the event?


SJHussar@aol.com

> Do you need to ride a steam train to make it
> a worthwhile experience?

> In these days of insurance mania, riding is
> the costly part.

This is a popular view right now, but I don't buy it.

If I were an insurance guy, and had to compare:

a) 500 people essentially cooped up on a moving train; and

b) 500 people in their own vehicles, parking on public roads near the tracks, possibly trespassing, standing on or near the property as the train goes by . . .

you get the picture. Does (b) REALLY seem a lower risk?

The only reason Plandampfs flourished when and where they did was because:

i) the Health and Safety rules in the GDR, Czech Republic, and Poland had not caught up to those of richer countries yet.

ii) railways were still seen as a social good to provide jobs, so revenues did not need to cover costs.

iii) these areas were not known for keen legal protections.

As their economies have changed, so have the cost of the events, and the nature of the events themselves.

Anyone taking money for putting on an event, whether the customers are riding or chasing, or even told that they are simply purchasing information, and not protect himself with insurance, is taking a risk.

One other comment: in 1992, when three of us combined forces to put on a photo freight on the C&TS, we were required to purchase insurance to cover their deductible, because their insurance specifically excluded customer liability at places they would normally not be off-train. I suspect other tourist lines might have similar policies.

I do think they can be marketed successfully. But I don't think the insurance will be any less expensive.

JAC

> Do you need to ride a steam train to make it
> a worthwhile experience?

Rob, I'd concur and certainly sponsored (co-branded) freights would be a good idea except- the first time some yutz steps in front of the train-then we are really done.

One other problem, what's your consist? Period specific stuff or doublestacks for a little fantasy. Of course the period stuff will have friction bearings, right?

superheater@rrmail.com

> Do you need to ride a steam train to make it
> a worthwhile experience?

> I have been pondering this since the OC shut
> down. Photo frieghts are nothing new, but
> usually a limited number of photographers
> pays a large fare and rides the train
> itself.

> In these days of insurance mania, riding is
> the costly part.

> Are there enough buffs out there who would
> pay an "event" ticket for photo
> frieghts on a chase-it-yourself basis? Maybe
> something like a Plandampf where the Ohio
> Central ran all steam for a weekend on its
> regular frieghts?

> How would that make money for the railroad?

> Well...

Forget operating the steam locomotive - set up tents around it, sell 1000 tickets at $100 each, and throw a party. Give 'em 4 or 5 hours of train videos, feed 'em, and let 'em take pictures of the locmotive. Have a drawing with a top prize of $10,000, maybe another 100 $100 winners. Make sure you get the proper licensing and approvals to hold this raffle. Throw steaks on the grill, add ribs or other barbecue, and plenty of beer to wash it down. Just be prepared for some "animated" discussions. At the end of the day you've raised $60,000 - $70,000 for your locomotive.

Martyhuck@aol.com

> ...Throw steaks on the grill, add
> ribs or other barbecue, and plenty of beer
> to wash it down...

OOPS! If you dispense alcoholic beverages you are potentially liable for whatever damage the guests do on the way home - to themselves or others.

Don't you hate what lawyers have done to our world?

tr2manz@frontiernet.net

Sounds like a great idea: heck, our Porter is already in a covered greenhouse, and we could just wrist band through the door. Better yet, come hang out for the traditional (and non-denominational) Michigan Friday-Night Fish-Fry at our depot and combine. I like it; I LIKE IT A-LOT. Now, where is that phone number of the local beer distributor....

TJ


Port Huron Museum
tjgaffney@phmuseum.org