oldest revenue car?

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:59 am

Ted,

I remember being on board all of the ships years ago.

Was it the Thayer or the steam schooner that was later placed up on a barge away from the pier?

Brian Norden

> There are many folks here who are interested
> in Ship Preservation.

> So I am pleased to announce that the 1895
> West Coast lumber schooner C.A. Thayer has
> been moved ashore for a two year $10 million
> re-building.

> She has been on display at the San Francisco
> Maritime National Historical Park's Hyde
> Street Pier since 1963.

> Unlike wooden sailing vessels built in the
> East, Douglas fir was used here in the West
> for shipbuilding. Many of her timbers are
> over 80 feet long!There were over 500
> sailing vessels built out here. Thayer is
> now one of two!

> Also of interest, the moving company that
> moved our 470 ton schooner is now headed for
> Chicago, Illinois. As many readers know, the
> Museum of Science and Industry moved their
> trains indoors in recent years. Now ther are
> going to move the World war II German
> Submarine U-505 to a new location, out of
> the weather.

> We will be posting pictures on the park
> website.
> nps.gov/safr for those interested.

Jack · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:41 am

Just to keep it light on this board, I've got a question for you knowledgeable types out there.

I was at a luncheon today with the local chamber of commerce. Representing the only tourist railroad in the area, I often get asked questions about our business. A gentleman inquired as to whether I knew what and where was the longest tourist railroad in the U.S. This would be exclusively a tourist hauler, no freight service, e.g. Ohio Central.

Most of the tourist lines I know of are short ones, including ours (7 miles of track).The ones that came to my mind were the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres and Toltec. If you want to differentiate between narrow and standard gauge, OK. Any help on this one?

Thanks,

Jack

East Troy Electric Railroad
jftrolley@aol.com

Paul W. Woodring · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:14 am

> Just to keep it light on this board, I've
> got a question for you knowledgeable types
> out there.

> I was at a luncheon today with the local
> chamber of commerce. Representing the only
> tourist railroad in the area, I often get
> asked questions about our business. A
> gentleman inquired as to whether I knew what
> and where was the longest tourist railroad
> in the U.S. This would be exclusively a
> tourist hauler, no freight service, e.g.
> Ohio Central.

> Most of the tourist lines I know of are
> short ones, including ours (7 miles of
> track).The ones that came to my mind were
> the Durango and Silverton and the Cumbres
> and Toltec. If you want to differentiate
> between narrow and standard gauge, OK. Any
> help on this one?

> Thanks,

I've got to believe that when the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic fully opens their extention to Canton that they would be a contender for longest standard gauge tourist line, at least East of the Mississippi. It's probably about 60 miles from Rockside Rd., Independence to Canton.
> Jack

pww57@hotmail.com

WP&Ymike · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:33 am

> what and where was the longest tourist railroad
> in the U.S. This would be exclusively a
> tourist hauler
> Jack

I guess that depends on how you define "in the U.S." Completely in the U.S. or operating from a U.S. origin.
The WP&YR has regular scheduled service during the tourist season from Skagway Alaska 40.6 miles to Bennett B.C. Canada, and charter service 67.5 miles to Carcross, Yukon, Canada. The tracks extend 110 miles to Whitehorse, Yukon, but are not completely servicable beyond Carcross at this time.

mike211@yknet.ca

Bob Yarger · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:25 am

I think the Grand Canyon and Cumbres & Toltec Scenic are both about 64 miles long. Both are tourist only and neither is a common carrier.

ryarger@rypn.org

Steve Singer · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 9:02 am

> I think the Grand Canyon and Cumbres &
> Toltec Scenic are both about 64 miles long.
> Both are tourist only and neither is a
> common carrier.
If we were to expand the scope to all The Americas, The Old Patagonian Express runs 251 miles from Jaccobacci to Esquel in Argentina. 100% steam. Anyone know of a longer tourist line anywhere?

bas1210@comcast.net

B. Allan · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 9:54 am

> I've got to believe that when the Cuyahoga
> Valley Scenic fully opens their extention to
> Canton that they would be a contender for
> longest standard gauge tourist line, at
> least East of the Mississippi. It's probably
> about 60 miles from Rockside Rd.,
> Independence to Canton.

With Canton our railroad is 50 miles long, I never considered that we may be the longest tourist railroad east of the Missippi, Thank You for bringing it up!

B. Allan

http://www.cvsr.com

cvsrkahuna@aol.com

B. Allan · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 9:58 am

> With Canton our railroad is 50 miles long, I
> never considered that we may be the longest
> tourist railroad east of the Missippi, Thank
> You for bringing it up!

> B. Allan

Forgive my spelling of Mississippi

http://www.cvsr.com
cvsrkahuna@aol.com

Kenneth Cotton · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:30 am

> Forgive my spelling of Mississippi

The Austin and Texas Central Railroad operates from downtown Austin to Burnet,Texas,plus has trackage rights over another three miles of track for a total of 63 miles.

kbcotton@flash.net

Linn W. Moedinger · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 11:51 am

> I think the Grand Canyon and Cumbres &
> Toltec Scenic are both about 64 miles long.
> Both are tourist only and neither is a
> common carrier.

I suppose it's all in how you define tourist railroad. By the above definition Strasburg is not a tourist railroad. If you include common carriers who cater in a very large way, but not exclusively, to tourists, AMTRAK is our longest tourist railroad.

Don't underestimate the power of casting your lot with AMTRAK. It can be of help in zoning issues.

linnwm@supernet.com

Evan · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:19 pm

The Adirondack Scenic RR has about 140 miles of track, but not all of it is in regular service yet.

Adirondack Scenic RR
n2xjk@yahoo.com

Rob S · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 3:09 pm

> I believe they play baseball now
> where these engines are sitting.

Yeap!. Home plate in the SkyDome now sits just about there the middle of the turntable pit was.

Ryan Scott · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:48 pm

The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is 53 miles long, and runs both freight and passenger over the entire line. Passenger service is normally only over 40 miles of it. Steam and diesel.

Ryan

lima709@aol.com

Jim Tighe · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 9:24 pm

> I suppose it's all in how you define tourist
> railroad. By the above definition Strasburg
> is not a tourist railroad. If you include
> common carriers who cater in a very large
> way, but not exclusively, to tourists,
> AMTRAK is our longest tourist railroad.

> Don't underestimate the power of casting
> your lot with AMTRAK. It can be of help in
> zoning issues.

Is the term "common carrier" ( or even the concept ) as it was understood 50 years ago, still valid in 2004-style railroading?

justighe@bright.net

Nick D'Amore · **Posted:** Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:54 pm

The Knox & Kane lists 75 miles in my 2003 Official Guide, but I'm not sure how accurate that is, they did abandon some miles on the west end some years back. Obviously (sadly) the east end is now about a half mile shorter, too. Strictly speaking, it doesn't meet the definition due to a handful of freight moves each month, but tourists do pay the bills. The Marienville-Kinzue Bridge trip was 96 miles round trip, longer than the Silverton. Was that the longest regular steam run in the US?

nickDELETETHESELETTERSd@icubed.com