Here's something I was thinking about over my coffee today...

First of all, think of the many standard gauge, for-profit tourist/heritage operators are there in the US. From that list, how many fit these four cateories?

How many standard gauge, for-profit tourist/heritage operators in the US exist on just passenger revenue (meaning they have no meaningful frieght income)? (Category A)

Now ask the same question, but limit it to standard gauge, for-profit tourist/heritage operators that DO NOT rely on volunteers for jobs like coach attendants.(Category B)

Now ask the same question but limit it to standard gauge, for-profit steam operators... (Category C)

Now ask the same question but limit it to standard gauge, for-profit steam operators that DO NOT rely on volunteers for jobs like coach attendants.(Category D)

> Here's something I was thinking about over
> my coffee today...

> First of all, think of the many standard
> gauge, for-profit tourist/heritage operators
> are there in the US. From that list, how
> many fit these four cateories?

> How many standard gauge, for-profit
> tourist/heritage operators in the US exist
> on just passenger revenue (meaning they have
> no meaningful frieght income)? (Category A)

> Now ask the same question, but limit it to
> standard gauge, for-profit tourist/heritage
> operators that DO NOT rely on volunteers for
> jobs like coach attendants.(Category B)

> Now ask the same question but limit it to
> standard gauge, for-profit steam
> operators... (Category C)

> Now ask the same question but limit it to
> standard gauge, for-profit steam operators
> that DO NOT rely on volunteers for jobs like
> coach attendants.(Category D)

A short list:
Grand Canyon Railway- steam/diesel - all passenger
Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway- standard guage(?) with a cog - all passenger
Great Smoky Mountains Railway-steam/diesel- some freight business
Arcade & Attica, western New York. (if it's still in business)-steam/diesel- very limited freight business
California Western -steam/diesel- no freight business in several years- bankrupt- being
bought by Sierra Railway.
Napa Valley Wine Train- diesel (or propane or something)- virtually no freight business
There might be a few more(maybe in Colorado, Texas), but excluding the narrow guage operations, there aren't many. Not sure if any of these use volunteers.
mw

p_michael_warren@yahoo.com

Valley Railroad, Essex, CT fits these categories-- it is a for-profit, standard-gage, steam operation, with no freight (not a common-carrier), and the few volunteers work on track projects (and a small amount of equipment restoration), not in any train service.

hpincus@mindspring.com

> A short list:
> Grand Canyon Railway- steam/diesel - all
> passenger
> Manitou & Pikes Peak Railway- standard
> guage(?) with a cog - all passenger
> Great Smoky Mountains Railway-steam/diesel-
> some freight business
> Arcade & Attica, western New York. (if
> it's still in business)-steam/diesel- very
> limited freight business
> California Western -steam/diesel- no freight
> business in several years- bankrupt- being
> bought by Sierra Railway.
> Napa Valley Wine Train- diesel (or propane
> or something)- virtually no freight business
> There might be a few more(maybe in Colorado,
> Texas), but excluding the narrow guage
> operations, there aren't many. Not sure if
> any of these use volunteers.
> mw

I thought of another one: The Roaring Camp & Big Trees. I think their standard guage line hauls mostly passengers. They also run a narrow guage line with steam.
mw

p_michael_warren@yahoo.com

For a while you could have included Ohio Central ...tourist operation, lottsa freight


lamontdc@adelphia.net