With alteration to the basic electrical devices of the motor, probably yes.

The NH EP-1 thru EP-4 motors used similar AC traction motors and ran on both 11kv 25 Hz AC on NH, NYCONN and PRR, and 600v DC on NYC. Thus by installing 600v DC switchgear theoretically a GG1 could be made to run on IRM's power.

What alterations are necessary and whether such alterations to the historic artifact would be acceptable at a museum is another question.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

To become a snowmobile trail. Owned by State of Vermont, former St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County, with other names in between.

http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?00005926+OP-5926
ryarger@rypn.org

When I asked this and similar questions about passenger relations and comfort at the New Hope (Pa.) Steam Rwy. in the late 1970s, I was told that the customers expect an authentic atmosphere and real railroads aren't "passenger friendly". The prime purpose of a tourist railway is so the engineer can run the train!

TyburnRR@cs.com

Edited to add volts:
New construction (NHV-BOS) is 60 Hz (25,000 volts), as is the Hell Gate line (might be about 12,500 volts). NJT's new construction is 60 Hz (25,000 volts) as well and MNCR from "SHELL" to NHV is 60 Hz (about 12,500 volts).

The PRR, and, I think, the Reading, are still 25 cycle, 11,000 volts.


TyburnRR@cs.com

> To become a snowmobile trail. Owned by State
> of Vermont, former St. Johnsbury &
> Lamoille County, with other names in
> between.

ETTS, Chapter uncountable. I hope the ghost of Dr. Hastings blows some of these bleeps clean off the map. What a country. Throw away the railroad; replace with frivolous s**t.

justighe@bright.net

Christmas story involving the San Diego RR Museum.

http://www.trainweb.org/chris/threekings.html
ryarger@rypn.org

My son and I just came back from hiking some trails that exist in the suburbs of Boston (NOT former ROW's). Miles and miles of hills and wooded trails. We passed other walkers/hikers and some mountain bikers too, all enjoying the vast expanses of open space located just a few miles north of Boston. The idea of them tearing up the St.J & LC occurred to me while walking these trails, the pure lunacy of it, that is.

Here I am in a densely populated area with plenty of places to go to ride my bike and hike, and they're destroying a nearly 100 mile railroad line in northern VERMONT to make way for a trail! As if there aren't enough rural areas and existing trails in Vermont.



SJHussar@aol.com

My experience with the more rural trails in Vermont (CV, D&H, Barre & Chelsea)is that they are very lightly used in warm weather. The main users are snowmobilers in winter - a very powerful lobby force in Vermont. Of course, if used only as a tourist RR in warm weather, the LVRC and snowmobiles could co-exist nicely like they do in New Hampshire and New York, and in fact cooperate with maintenance. Snowmobilers didn't want to hear that, even though they have used it as a defacto trail for several years now.

The more urban and paved ex-Rutland line along Lake Champlain (probably the most beautiful bike path in the US) sees a lot of non-motorized use and almost should be widened to accommodate it all. Taken up in 1965 after the Rutland's demise, it was a test case for the Rails-to-Trails legality and there are efforts to extend it up through the Champlain Islands on the old right-of-way.

ryarger@rypn.org

That's for the post. The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum is always happy to help out.

Pacific Southwest Ry Museum
Jim@sdrm.org

Hey! Good News!

I just won the 5 state Powerball Lottery.

Exact amount isn't known at the moment, but looks like I'm getting in the neighborhood of $381 million tax free.

So, I am of course going to share my good fortune with my railway preservation buddies.

Looking for projects. Just let me know what you want to do and how much you need.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.


Railway Preservation News
hkading@rypn.org