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| City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6205 |
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| Author: | Hugh Odom [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
I've gotten a request from a friend in South America who's the technical manager for a short, narrow gauge tourist railway located a few miles outside of the only city within many miles. The railroad has been in operation since the late 90's and has been very successful. The existing trackage takes tourists on a tour of a large national park, which is very popular. The line uses a combination of oil-fired steam and diesel motive power, both of which are quiet and clean-running. This railroad hopes to soon extend trackage to within the city (a distance of about 5 miles), so that tourists (who generally arrive by tourist ship) can walk over to board trains, rather than having to arrange road transport out of town to the present railway terminus. The "city fathers" of the city seem skeptical of the benefits to them of this arrangement and are not yet totally supportive of the project. I was wondering if any of you can cite examples in the U.S. of successful cooperative efforts between tourist railways and cities, or at least examples where cities have benefitted from local tourist railways. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Hugh Odom The Ultimate Steam Page whodom2001@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | Evan [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 9:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
One example I can think of where trains meet cruise ships is the White Pass & Yukon RR in Skagway Alaska. Skagway Webcam n2xjk@yahoo.com |
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| Author: | George Kaplan [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 1:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
I believe the towns of Van Buren and Springdale, AR both benefit from the Arkansas & Missouri tourist trains which originate/terminate there. > I was wondering if any of you can cite > examples in the U.S. of successful > cooperative efforts between tourist railways > and cities, or at least examples where > cities have benefitted from local tourist > railways. Any information would be greatly > appreciated. > Regards, > Hugh Odom |
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| Author: | dave [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 3:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
CATS and Chama and Antonito come to mind. Love / Hate in Durango. SAM shortline for an entire region of South Georgia, as a state subsidized economic development project. What happened to Reader, AR since the railroad shut down? Has Steamtown had an impact on downtown Scranton? My guess is yes. Who would go to Promontory Point without the Golden Spike NHS? Cass and a large chunk of WV. Baker City, Oregon and Sumpter Valley RR. Can anybody envisage a reason to actually go to Detroit if it weren't for the Ford Museum and Huckleberry RR nearby? Historically, railroad development allowed the frontier to be populated and economically developed wherever it went. Miami was nothing until the FEC came south of WPB. No shortage of examples, Hugh. Best wishes to Shaun in his quest. Dave irondave@bellsouth.net |
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| Author: | Fred Ash [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 3:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
> I was wondering if any of you can cite > examples in the U.S. of successful > cooperative efforts between tourist railways > and cities, or at least examples where > cities have benefitted from local tourist > railways. Any information would be greatly > appreciated. Museums in the City of Chicago have a consortium called Museums in the Park. To garner more municipal cooperation and funds, they did a cost-benefit analysis based upon a survey of out-of-town visitors. It asked a sample of visitors if their trip was made specifically to visit a local cultural attraction, whether a cultural attraction contributed to their trip decision to visit the city or if such a visit extended their stay. Using existing attendance, an estimate was extrapolated of how many people 1) spent an extra half-day, 2) stayed overnight or 3) had an extended stay in the city as the result of these venues. Next, they multiplied each category by an average amount spent. Like all good economists, their finally assumption was a multiplier effect (they used 5x) for how many times each “outside dollar” circulated in the local economy. The study total showed a staggering contribution to the local economy. Be sure that any plan presented to the politicians outlines those things they want to hear. How many jobs are created by current operations? How much local income do you currently create? Only then do you make conservative assumptions—for example, your goal could be to get 10% of other out-of-town tourists (those that don’t currently visit your attraction) to spend an extra night and thus to spend more money. Only then should you make “Field of Dreams” type statements regarding the number of additional tourists that your improved attraction can bring into the city. Illinois Historic Structures fred_ash@bankone.com |
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| Author: | Dave Crosby [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 4:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
Hello There just happened to be a blurb in Today's Scranton Tribune mentioning that Steamtown has contributed some $411 Million (US) to the local (Northeast Pennsylvania) economy since 1988, according to a recent study. In a somewhat checkerd history, it was the City of Scranton who lobbied to have Steamtown move here in the early 1980's in an attempt to spearhead the city's economic recovery, only to succeed in running the operation into the ground before the NPS takeover in 1988. Still, $411 Million in 15 years, impressive... Dave Crosby bing@epix.net |
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| Author: | Tom Gears [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 5:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
How about the Cumberland, Md and the WMSR? The RR seems to anchor the tourist business in Cumberland. Tom Actors to bring Brunswick railroad history to life |
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| Author: | John W. Coniglio [ Thu Jul 03, 2003 8:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: City/Tourist Railroad Cooperation Examples? |
The town of Summerville, Georgia just installed a turntable for TVRM's locomotives in their city park as part of an effort to increase tourism. They have a depot, historic house and turntable all within 3 blocks of the county courthouse. TVRM's Backshop Gang renovated the bearing and did electrical work. The project was embraced by civic organizations along with the Chattooga & Chickamauga Railway and supported by the state of Georgia. JWC that other Chattanooga website mail@steamvalley.com |
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| Author: | Bob Yarger [ Sat Jul 05, 2003 9:13 am ] |
| Post subject: | Silverton |
Silverton, Colorado benefits tremendously from tourists arriving by train. Each year, some 200,000 visitors arrive, sans automobile, with a couple of hours to eat and spend money in town. With the decline of mining, I'm sure the train is their main source of income now. I'm suspect someone at their Chamber of Commerce (link below) could give you some dollar values. San Francisco's Market Street Railway operation is also an excellent melding of city funding and volunteer enthusiasm. http://www.silvertoncolorado.com/ ryarger@rypn.org |
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