Is Mr. Rowland implying that this operation in Virginia will eventually have all these things?

John

In all fairness, he worded it exactly like a smarmy politician or salesman would: He plants the suggestion in your head by asking what is really a completely unrelated question (based seemingly on the NJT excursions to Port Jervis of A QUARTER-CENTURY ago now, which are now seen as "never again, nohow, no way"), and if some future excursion program in Virginia used 614 or the like in any way that can be traced back to him, and only includes some aspects (say, 614 at 30 MPH, no Dutch doors, no cab rides or runbys, etc.) he can honestly say "I didn't PROMISE those things!"

Any Updates/New Developments About The Future Of The “Victoria Station” Site?

I’m Feeling…There Will Be A Formal Announcement About It By The Following Parties…

A Co-Op Land Site Multi-Development Project With Following Groups:

- Virginia Dept Of Transportation
- Virginia Railway Express
- Buckingham Branch
- Virginia Museum Of Transportation
- Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society
- Virginia Tech

In Creating A Modern “Rail Campus”/Education Center/Museum Annex/Transit Hub

Similar To What Kentucky Steam Heritage Corp Is Building In Ravenna/Irvine, Kentucky….

It Would Make Sense, To Have More Than 1 Group Using This Site To Ensure It As Rail Center Facility…

What VDOT, BB, & VMT/N&W 611 DID There Last Year Was Just Totally Amazing…

Or the car salesman in "Breaking Away".... "On paper? You got that on paper?"

Is there a plan for a turntable or a Y at Goshen, or Staunton?

What is the MAS of the 611 excursions?

Here I come asking the pipe dream question again.

If this facility gets built. What could be the odds the VMT could explore getting 1218 back under steam again to go with 611 & 614? (The answer is probably close to zero, but oh well, just throwing it out there)

Unless this group has money to waste - 614 and / or 1218 wont happen. If anything they need a smaller locomotive to run during the off-season.

Remember that the modus operandi of thr owner of C&O 614 has always been to get OTHER people to pay for his Walter-Mitty-like ambitions.

I do not discount the possibility that it could happen again, this time with the "underwriting" of the Commonwealth of Virginia, directly or indirectly..........

Maybe two 6's = one 12 ??? Onward & Upward.

Ross Rowland

Ross I swear to god, don’t do this to me

Like any other business that gets funding from, say, bank loans or the stock market? I learned in grade school about the need for a business plan to convince others to risk their money.

I wonder why a bank won't give me a car loan without some evidence I can pay it back?

Brian

The problem here is that this isn't typically a "business plan" to start and keep in operation a sustainable business operation.

The American Freedom Train: A one-off, might happen every 50-100 years.

Chessie Steam Special: Birthday party.

Chessie Safety Express: PR and Operation Lifesaver, intangible return on investment.

I stand by my assertion:
Rowland did a good job of convincing others to pay for his "parties." Hollywood, Wall Street, etc, are FULL of such schemers doing the same thing. Some manage to satisfy their clients enough. Others, like Elizabeth Holmes and Bernie Madoff, go to prison.
NJT Erie Limited runs: No idea what that was supposed to be about, and note that no one's tried it since......

Every non-profit depends on "others" paying for their dream/mission. Dues of paying members never carries the load. Like "The Music Man" says, "You've got to know the territory".

Speaking of which..... Shouldn't we be hearing big news about this any day now? Has RR had his meeting with the Prez yet?

[quote="Alexander D. Mitchell IV"

Chessie Safety Express: PR and Operation Lifesaver, intangible return on investment.

[/quote]

The return on investment may be "intangible", but EVERY RAILROADER I know thinks OLS is worth the trouble and expense.