Scranton-NYC High Speed Rail Corridor Project (renamed)

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2516

Scranton Yard wrote:

As an enthusiast of rail preservation, rail transportation, and the DL&W in particular this project has always been one that gets my attention.

In general I have a hard time reconciling the Fed raising rates to supposedly decrease liquidity and limit inflation while the legislature and executive branch continue to inject liquidity into the system by continued and growing deficit spending. I also can not see designing and building transportation systems based on legacy travel patterns. That said, in a global environment of finite resources (this is a zero sum game) the economy that can move people, raw materials, and finished goods the most efficiently will have a distinct advantage going forward.

About twenty years ago I discussed the reactivation of the cutoff with a gentleman in my community who was a rail enthusiast and who worked at a fairly high level for NJ Transit on the bus side of things. At the time he told me that the internal dialogue was exactly as some have discussed here. In the event that the private bus lines were not adequately meeting the demand the most economically viable and sensible approach would be for Transit to provide bus service.

That being said, if the line was to be brought up to US high speed standards (125 mph or so but preferably faster), I may support it if it were part of the private construction of high-speed service between Chicago and NYC city centers.

As for things like bar, dining, and different classes of service, I'd look to the Brightline model but with several levels of dining options given the longer time on the train. All the major league sports teams have long ago realized the advantages of selling to the captive market of ticket holders at the events yet commuter rail and Amtrak have largely gone in the opposite direction with this. Too much government-think and not enough free enterprise perhaps?

"Legacy travel patterns" is a useful way to label this-thanks. Also

But here's the thing. Most of the line is curved and steep. The first thing that greets you at the East End of the Mall is that nasty 1.8% grade. When you are at Pocono Summit, the steepness of the line is so obvious. My physical characteristics are getting a little fuzzy after four years away, but it's just never going to be a 125mph line.

Worse, Eastern Pennsylvania gets the periodic remnant of a hurricane several in the 1950's (Diane wrecked the Lackawanna; Agnes wrecked everything in 1972; Gloria in the 80's...) and the higher the quality of the road; the more expensive to build repair/replace.

Almost as risk blind as bad as California trying build a (true) high speed rail line when they are one of the most seismically active places in the world. Here's the latest $26M they are spending:

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/d ... yments.pdf

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1717

superheater wrote:

Almost as risk blind as bad as California trying build a (true) high speed rail line when they are one of the most seismically active places in the world. Here's the latest $26M they are spending:

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/d ... yments.pdf

HSR works fine in Japan… they get earthquakes and tsunamis.

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2516

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

superheater wrote:

Almost as risk blind as bad as California trying build a (true) high speed rail line when they are one of the most seismically active places in the world. Here's the latest $26M they are spending:

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/d ... yments.pdf

HSR works fine in Japan… they get earthquakes and tsunamis.

Have they had to rebuild the line yet? Or is this just another of your visceral reactions that completely misses the issue at hand. Risk assessment isn't about what's already happened-it's about what can happen in the future.

Building in vulnerable spot worked wonders for TEPCO, but at least trains don't carry hypertoxic radionuclides.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/envi ... ctive-soil

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2616

Larry Ashley photos of a typical I-80 day (in good weather no less) where it passes under the now-trackless Lackawanna Cutoff viaduct over the Delaware River: a parking lot, even though it is in the middle of nowhere. Imagine what it will be like when you approach an urban area. Is anyone working on a device while driving, as they could be on a train? Hope not, because there are a lot of rear-end collisions on this stretch of road. But if they were on the soon-to-be train up above they needn't worry, especially in the snow and ice that is common here in the winter. My grandfather was born a few miles from here in Gouldsboro PA, about 50' from the DL&W RR, and my great grandfather, an emigre from Ukraine, worked for the DL&W RR until the day he suffered a heart attack and died.

Most anti-passenger rail tropes have the same flaws, one of which is underestimating the unattractiveness of the available alternatives.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1717

superheater wrote:

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

superheater wrote:

Almost as risk blind as bad as California trying build a (true) high speed rail line when they are one of the most seismically active places in the world. Here's the latest $26M they are spending:

https://hsr.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/d ... yments.pdf

HSR works fine in Japan… they get earthquakes and tsunamis.

Have they had to rebuild the line yet? Or is this just another of your visceral reactions that completely misses the issue at hand. Risk assessment isn't about what's already happened-it's about what can happen in the future.

Building in vulnerable spot worked wonders for TEPCO, but at least trains don't carry hypertoxic radionuclides.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/envi ... ctive-soil

They’ve had to make major repairs after earthquakes yes.

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2022 8:58 pm

superheater wrote:

2.) It’s not going to appease Squad Karen who wants to complain to the manager about propriety with potty mouth.

Karens: If you dislike being called Karen, then stop asking to talk to the manager-it’s the defining feature of Karenism. Also stop attempting to remain anonymous because you lack the testicular fortitude to air your grievances publicly, and accept criticism and debate. If you still don't like Karen, then I'll resume using a certain ICD-10 code.

Oh, If we’re going to down the scatological road, quit being something excreted from a cloaca.

It's fine. Name calling doesn't bother me, and my testicles are fine, thanks for thinking about them.

I reported the post because it was off topic, and despite the fact there are others (including a moderator) who agree with you doesn't make it on topic. You wanted the post to be about politics, hence the original title. You got exactly what you wanted.

10stewi · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2022 9:33 pm

I fail to see how this is related to preservation, save for a very weak connection to Steamtown. The conclusion I can draw, is that there is a desire to leave this in preservation, knowing that moving it to railfaning (Where it rightly belongs) will be this topic's death.

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:18 pm

superheater wrote:

[quote="Emmo213]

It's fine. Name calling doesn't bother me, and my testicles are fine, thanks for thinking about them.

I reported the post because it was off topic, and despite the fact there are others (including a moderator) who agree with you doesn't make it on topic. You wanted the post to be about politics, hence the original title. You got exactly what you wanted.[/quote]

Although in this instance, the reference is an adjective, not a noun, so since you bring it up, you might want to rely on an actual endocrinological test, rather than just frequent palpation.

Stop by my friend's office; get tested.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-boland-65691b139/

And yes, I did get exactly what I wanted. I found out who might be disinclined to agree with me, but who still have the intellectual integrity to read and evaluate the post on its merits, and the people who react out of personal animus and spew venom and stammer ipso factos.

And just so you know, one side benefit: I'm a betting man. Today was a great day. I had a banner day trading, personal record and I got you to talk about your junk and I had the response ready to go.

Attachment:

17K today.JPG

And tomorrow, Lock Haven gets slaughtered by Penn State on the mat.

Life is good.[/quote]

Maybe it's the fact I've had two strong drinks but your post was perfect. Well done.

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2516

Well thank you.

In that case:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uepFO4psgKE

tomgears · **Posted:** Fri Nov 11, 2022 9:58 am

While the restoration of a rail corridor for commuter rail can be called preservation on one level, much of what is posted in this topic is not at all related to preservation and I've locked this thread.

Scranton-NYC High Speed Rail Corridor Project (renamed)

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