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| Need track to run steam? Talk to me.......
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9868 |
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| Author: | Kenneth Cotton [ Fri Jun 04, 2004 2:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Need track to run steam? Talk to me....... |
Our railroad has rights over 60 miles of welded rail,2% grades,favorable insurance rates,and three wyes available .We could possibly get another 20 miles of recently rehabbed track to use,but currently we have no need for it..yet. Another 30 miles or so need work but it is good for Class 1 running,with two wyes on that end of the railroad. We also operate out of a major city with two downtown terminals,and have three major metropolitan area within three hours travel time. We also have an excellent relationship with the freight carrier that serves the line,as well as a sterling reputation with the entity that owns the track. Sounds too good to be true? Well it is the truth and we would love to take advantage of what we could do with guest locomotives and our own locomotive when it is out of the shop. The major question is..is anyone really ready to step up to the plate and get serious about making it happen? Money as in all things,is the key. Money for transport,money for maintenance...all these hurdles can be worked out,but it will take a collaborative effort from the community at large to make it happen. Will the disparate egos of our community put them aside and work toward a common goal? Or will they allow the fact that as long as they have the engine,if they can't run it where they want,it will never run? The personality issue is as great or even greater than the money issue.I know several of the steam operators,and perhaps this is a golden opportunity that would be hard to pass up. On the other hand,there are those operators which have the atitude that would be detrimental to the group concept. I have identified several locomotives which are currently not operating due to no place to operate that would make excellent candidates to operate here. They range from as small as a Mogul to as large as a 2-10-4. Collectively, we can pull this off,but everybody has to be on the same page. If making steam available for future generations to see and appreciate,it will take more than the Ohio Central,Durango and Silverton,Cumbres and Toltec to expose the current generation to what it is all about. Like a heavy freight needing a doubleheader and a pusher on the rear,power moves things. Together all of us can make it a reality. The time has come to move toward a collective enterprise to run what we have,pool our mechanical,political and social power and establish a home for steam,running the way it was meant to run. kbcotton@flash.net |
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| Author: | Christopher G. Pitzen [ Fri Jun 04, 2004 4:26 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Need track to run steam? Talk to me....... |
All I can say is WOW!!! This would be great if everyone could work together. I applaud you for opening up the window. Let's hope something good comes of this. CP ablemanscurve@hotmail.com |
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| Author: | Tom Cornillie [ Sat Jun 05, 2004 3:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Need track to run steam? -- What Railroad? |
What Railroad is this? > Our railroad has rights over 60 miles of > welded rail,2% grades,favorable insurance > rates,and three wyes available altoonaroundhouse@umich.edu |
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| Author: | Kenneth Cotton [ Sun Jun 06, 2004 8:11 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Need track to run steam? -- What Railroad? |
> What Railroad is this? The railroad is the Austin and Texas Central Railroad kbcoton@flash.net |
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| Author: | Matt Conrad [ Tue Jun 08, 2004 12:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Need track to run steam? Talk to me....... |
Interesting proposal. I wish I'd thought of it for our line. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the only way we're going to get steam in South Carolina is to bring somebody else with a working locomotive in. We've got too many Paranoid Prophets of Doom who are afraid of anything that boils water to really get serious about our own engine. A crew with an established reputation is about the only way to silence them. That said, our line ain't for all steamers. It's got sharp curves and steep hills that would cause a big locomotive major headaches. I'd love to have something like a Heisler or maybe a low-drivered 2-6-2 to play with a bit. So, if you've got a big engine, talk to Mr. Cotton. If you've got something a bit smaller, please contact SCRM! The South Carolina Railroad Museum mconrad@msmgmt.com |
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