Hi all,

I am bored and feel like talking steam...

Given the plans for Steamtown to focus on special excursions to multiple destinations, I thought I'd throw a few ideas into the ether.

Scranton-Tunkhannock
This trip over the DL&W Bloomsburg line and the Lehigh Valley mainline would require a few miles of CPR trackage and the balance on the Reading & Northern. The views are outstanding once you get along the Susquehanna.

Scranton-Jim Thorpe
Once the Coalport Bridge is restored to reunite the CNJ main with the Lehigh Gorge, this trip over the Reading & Northern features a quality destination that also has a swimming pool/turntable.

Scranton-Ashley
In my dreams, this trip would be the ultimate anthracite history tour once the breaker is stablized at Ashley, but the track conditions and other forces make this a true dream.

Finally, I offer two other thoughts...

Run-bys (not photo stops, er se, but run-bys)
All the Steamtown "special" trips should include run-bys. These can be at the turnaround point like RER Jr. Did with #614 in Port Jervis. The point is, people need to see, hear and feel the steam locomotive's power. I know that's what hooked me as a kid.

Reverse Trips
This is an idea I would like to see more and more museums explore. Often trips originate at a museum, but rarely do they "go there." Steamtown certainly has enough to do to make it a great 2-4 hour layover.

Anyway, just spewing thoughts...

Rob



trains@robertjohndavis.com

I think you have some good ideas there. Steamtown is doing some cool stuff with added destinations.

Looking at a map it seems that rail lines sprout from Scranton in all direction. I am sure that there are many other options available if they work at it. I think the key is to see if the Carbondale trips are well attended maybe we might see more. Of course this is just speculation on my part.

It is a shame that we could not keep going on the old D&H over Mt. Ararat. I think the CP still owns the right of way, maybe tracks could be laid again.

I think Delaware Water Gap and Jim Thorpe are going to be two great destinations. If they could find a way to turn the steam at the Gap and not use a diesel people would probably be more likely to spend the big bucks for that trip.

Tom Gears

> Hi all,

> I am bored and feel like talking steam...

> Given the plans for Steamtown to focus on
> special excursions to multiple destinations,
> I thought I'd throw a few ideas into the
> ether.

> Scranton-Tunkhannock
> This trip over the DL&W Bloomsburg line
> and the Lehigh Valley mainline would require
> a few miles of CPR trackage and the balance
> on the Reading & Northern. The views are
> outstanding once you get along the
> Susquehanna.

> Scranton-Jim Thorpe
> Once the Coalport Bridge is restored to
> reunite the CNJ main with the Lehigh Gorge,
> this trip over the Reading & Northern
> features a quality destination that also has
> a swimming pool/turntable.

> Scranton-Ashley
> In my dreams, this trip would be the
> ultimate anthracite history tour once the
> breaker is stablized at Ashley, but the
> track conditions and other forces make this
> a true dream.

> Finally, I offer two other thoughts...

> Run-bys (not photo stops, er se, but
> run-bys)
> All the Steamtown "special" trips
> should include run-bys. These can be at the
> turnaround point like RER Jr. Did with #614
> in Port Jervis. The point is, people need to
> see, hear and feel the steam locomotive's
> power. I know that's what hooked me as a
> kid.

> Reverse Trips
> This is an idea I would like to see more and
> more museums explore. Often trips originate
> at a museum, but rarely do they "go
> there." Steamtown certainly has enough
> to do to make it a great 2-4 hour layover.

> Anyway, just spewing thoughts...

> Rob

> Scranton-Tunkhannock
> This trip over the DL&W Bloomsburg line
> and the Lehigh Valley mainline would require
> a few miles of CPR trackage and the balance
> on the Reading & Northern. The views are
> outstanding once you get along the
> Susquehanna.

> Scranton-Jim Thorpe
> Once the Coalport Bridge is restored to
> reunite the CNJ main with the Lehigh Gorge,
> this trip over the Reading & Northern
> features a quality destination that also has
> a swimming pool/turntable.

> Rob

These ideas have been dicussed for several years here in the Passenger Department at Port Clinton.
I hope to see this happen in the future, but there are alot of arms needing twisting here, before we will see it.

Steve Gilbert
RBMN