***warning, opinions included below***

Have heard from VT sources that the scrapping onf the state-owned former St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain will begin this summer.

The line, which is pretty much intact but suffering from washouts and neglect, stretches east-to-west across the entire state of Vermont.

In the grand short-sighted tradition of many other states, Vermont will be removing the line for a trail, ensuring that the corridor will never again serve the public good, but will spend it's days in the service of the special interest groups -- in this case, the snowmobile lobby.

And thus, tax dollars (thankfully not mine) will be spent to destroy the state's infrastructure while supporting hobbyists.

The state that was once a model of smart rail corridor use and progressive transportation, is now one beholden to the loudest minority of opinion (loudest in more ways than one, too).

Rob


trains@robertjohndavis.com

Shame that its hapening. Only thing is that can't see anything for traffic ever going there. By the early 1990's there was no traffic what so ever.

-justin franz

> ***warning, opinions included below***

> Have heard from VT sources that the
> scrapping onf the state-owned former St.
> Johnsbury & Lake Champlain will begin
> this summer.

> The line, which is pretty much intact but
> suffering from washouts and neglect,
> stretches east-to-west across the entire
> state of Vermont.

> In the grand short-sighted tradition of many
> other states, Vermont will be removing the
> line for a trail, ensuring that the corridor
> will never again serve the public good, but
> will spend it's days in the service of the
> special interest groups -- in this case, the
> snowmobile lobby.

> And thus, tax dollars (thankfully not mine)
> will be spent to destroy the state's
> infrastructure while supporting hobbyists.

> The state that was once a model of smart
> rail corridor use and progressive
> transportation, is now one beholden to the
> loudest minority of opinion (loudest in more
> ways than one, too).

> Rob


qcmrs18@yahoo.com

This abandonment and conversion to alternate use seems like nothing more than the basic laws of supply-demand working rather well. In this case, a railroad right-of-way is being supplanted by a bicycle/recreational trail. Obviously, there is no demand for freight service. But there is a demonstrated and growing demand for recreational opportunities.

What's so dern unusual? Everything changes, eventually. Shucks, I miss the old 727s Delta got from Western. But the 737-800s are just as powerful, just as safe, and cheaper (including two guys up front instead of three).

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

> This abandonment and conversion to alternate
> use seems like nothing more than the basic
> laws of supply-demand working rather well.

Well, yes and no. Most of the readers on this site are necessarily prejudiced by their love of history. And in our increasingly throw away society, things do change. Strictly on economics and a short term view, you may be correct in that this is a good decision.

But where would rail preservation be today if past decisions were based on the short term bottom line? What about the many folks who passed the hat to chip in and save a car or two, who mortgaged the farm to take a chance on setting up a permanent site, even on folks with larger stakes like the Kovalchik's keeping the East Broad Top around? Over and over, such past action is increasingly celebrated and considered visionary as we begin to ponder and realize what might have been lost.

Many, if not most decisions, like ripping up a rail line or destroying a car to reap the scrap value, are irreversible for all practical purposes.

So what price can be placed on history and our heritage; and where does that fit into the economic equation?

Bob Kutella


68trolley@comcast.net

Bob,
I think you have "hit the nail on the head." I agree wholeheartedly with your comments. -- Ray

> Well, yes and no. Most of the readers on
> this site are necessarily prejudiced by
> their love of history. And in our
> increasingly throw away society, things do
> change. Strictly on economics and a short
> term view, you may be correct in that this
> is a good decision.

> But where would rail preservation be today
> if past decisions were based on the short
> term bottom line? What about the many folks
> who passed the hat to chip in and save a car
> or two, who mortgaged the farm to take a
> chance on setting up a permanent site, even
> on folks with larger stakes like the
> Kovalchik's keeping the East Broad Top
> around? Over and over, such past action is
> increasingly celebrated and considered
> visionary as we begin to ponder and realize
> what might have been lost.

> Many, if not most decisions, like ripping up
> a rail line or destroying a car to reap the
> scrap value, are irreversible for all
> practical purposes.

> So what price can be placed on history and
> our heritage; and where does that fit into
> the economic equation?

> Bob Kutella


raymondreter@aol.com

Bob, you make great points about the value of preserving heritage. I have read and reread your post, and Ray's response to it. I greatly respect and appreciate the points made and the spirit in which both of you wrote.

Point #1: My comments concerning this line segment conversion were not intended to place zero value on historical preservation. If I were not aware of the importance of preserving rail-related items that contributed to our culture, I guess I would not have joined TVRM back in 1965.

Bob, you asked, "So what price can be placed on history and heritage, and where does that fit into the economic equation?"

Point #2: It fits into the equation in sums equal to the political power the railroad preservation movement can muster. I am of the philosophy that says, roughly, the laws of economics and the marketplace can best be defeated with the proper and sensible application of political power.

As I have recently noted elsewhere on other RPYN posts, railroad preservationists are not as good as some other interest groups when it comes to political matters. While we cannot save everything, we need to work hard and smart to improve the odds and lengthen the list of vistories. It is way too short.

Thanks go to RYPN for this site. It is through just this sort of collegial and meaningful dialogue that new ideas come together.

amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

Art,

If the laws of economics are what you choose to live by, then it is hard to argue your point... except to say that preservation of infrastructure is the ultimate bottom-line investmenr.

Of course, the beauty of Vermont is that sometimes, just sometimes, there is a little more social judgment displayed. Vermont is not the norm, and I guess when they do something more base or "usual" it stands out.

Rob



trains@robertjohndavis.com

> This abandonment and conversion to alternate
> use seems like nothing more than the basic
> laws of supply-demand working rather well.
> In this case, a railroad right-of-way is
> being supplanted by a bicycle/recreational
> trail. Obviously, there is no demand for
> freight service. But there is a demonstrated
> and growing demand for recreational
> opportunities.

> What's so dern unusual? Everything changes,
> eventually. Shucks, I miss the old 727s
> Delta got from Western. But the 737-800s are
> just as powerful, just as safe, and cheaper
> (including two guys up front instead of
> three).

There was and is a demand for freight service on this line. This was proven by Vermont Rail Link, which identified many customers and had a plan to restore the line in sections. They even set up a plan for future STEAM excursions using a local steam heisler. The plan was in place, money was set aside by the state and the potential scrapping was halted. THIS ALL ENDED last year by BERNIE SANDERS. Most of his voters, it seems, are snow mobilers. As a gift to them, he secured Federal funding to scrap the WHOLE line for them. Vermont Rail Link was giving up the Morrisville to St. Johnsbury section for snowmobiling. But that was not enough for Sanders or VAST. Another priceless and beautiful line gone. Is this country doomed to become a nation enslaved to the Service Sector? My mind is blown by this decision.

laflamcs@hotmail.com