I had an idea for an other Railroaders' event to be held in the Summer Olympics in 2004. After reading about the different ideas below for the Mechathalon, how about the 500 meter Trackathalon? Teams from the world over would compete to lay, line, level 500 meters of RR... all by hand.

There could be two classes, light and heavy. Light could build narrow gauge, say 3 foot and the heavies could tackle std. gauge.

To make it more intersesting, or sadistic, use brand new, freshly creosoted ties, none of those whimpy re-lays. The combination of the creosote and heat will make that gold metal all that more valuable.

Then, when the olympics are almost over, the tracks could be ripped up in an other event, the Rails-To-Trails Combined. Following the closing ceremony, there would be a whole bunch of 500 meter bike trails for the Athenians and tourists to enjoy.

Ray,

No, no, no; you got it bass-ackwards. First have the Rails-to-Trails competition to tear up some of the unused Greek Railway Lines, and have it all re-laid in another competition for a tourist railway.

Moving some of the derelict steam locomotives and rolling stock scattered around the country to the new tourist railway for the weight lifting competition, and restoring them could replace track and field. We will then leave them with a fully operational railroad instead of a trail.

The Iron-Man event will be participating in all events - ripup, lay track, move equipment, restoration, followed by operation in the final event.

What an idea! Where can I buy tickets? :)

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> I had an idea for an other Railroaders'
> event to be held in the Summer Olympics in
> 2004. After reading about the different
> ideas below for the Mechathalon, how about
> the 500 meter Trackathalon? Teams from the
> world over would compete to lay, line, level
> 500 meters of RR... all by hand.

> There could be two classes, light and heavy.
> Light could build narrow gauge, say 3 foot
> and the heavies could tackle std. gauge.

> To make it more intersesting, or sadistic,
> use brand new, freshly creosoted ties, none
> of those whimpy re-lays. The combination of
> the creosote and heat will make that gold
> metal all that more valuable.

> Then, when the olympics are almost over, the
> tracks could be ripped up in an other event,
> the Rails-To-Trails Combined. Following the
> closing ceremony, there would be a whole
> bunch of 500 meter bike trails for the
> Athenians and tourists to enjoy.


Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Oh, Greece - I thought you meant Athens GA.

Never mind.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

We could always do a "overseas" version of the Great Shay Race! We could bring in returning champion GCRR 1925 and run her against the WM big six! Sound Good?

Hayes S.

cookiemonster@rrmail.com

> We could always do a "overseas"
> version of the Great Shay Race! We could
> bring in returning champion GCRR 1925 and
> run her against the WM big six! Sound Good?

> Hayes S.

How 'bout "Goat" against "Big Six" ??? Now that would be something to see. :-)

Stuart in Ky


Help Save the 87
gnufe@apex.net

> How 'bout "Goat" against "Big
> Six" ??? Now that would be something to
> see. :-)

It would take 6 Goats to make one Big 6 by weight - no thanks. A saddletanker race might be fun. Held on the Island of Sodor..........

Between 1925 and 6, I would definitely back 6 in the pulling competetion, 1925 on the off-road competition. She had a lot of revevant experience back in the Graham County days.

Dave


irondave@bellsouth.net

Dave,

I could talk to Jerry Joe about getting Southern Wood Preserving #3 (an ALCo 0-4-0T) out for race with the Goat. We'd have to make sure each locomotive had equal fuel and water loads! The race of the saddletankers! Anyone else got one they want to throw in? Maybe we'd need to have a qualifying run or maybe some "heat" races to work up to the final....

Mark

TVRM Shop Updates
aw90h@cs.com

Bring it on down. And, BTW, send me back my volunteers.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net