My favorite magazine pusher in Penn Station just got the next issue of Heritage Railway (which by the time it gets here is 3 months old). I was delighted to spend my commute home reading about how more and more UK preservation groups are turning to community railroads as a preservation idea.

I touched on this before, but it bears repeating.

What generally happens is a new (or now even existing) preservation group eyes an abandoned line that connects towns of some commercial or tourist interest. They begin to involve townsfolk (not just buffs) in a grass roots effort to provide cheap, basic transportation. Some schemes are starting with DMUs with the hope of steam, while the other more established groups getting into community railroading are planning steam powered regular service.

All these plans do have a tourist component, but each is set up to do what passenger trains were meant to do -- haul people who need to go from point A to point B. Some of the lines are also looking at frieght options.

In the US, there are many lines that could be candidates for such a service. The UK has fewer insurance issues (thought it is heating up) and the network rail system makes acquiring lines a different and less intense procedure, but all in all, this can be done.

Most importantly, it is being one by our English cousins.

I can identify at least 5 lines here in the northeast that are candidates for such a service.

The key is the community component.

I am watching the UK progress with great interest.

Rob

trains@robertjohndavis.com

Please identify some of them as food for thought.

> I can identify at least 5 lines here in the
> northeast that are candidates for such a
> service.



ryarger@rypn.org

Here's the food...

Forest City to Scranton, PA -- currently operated for frieght by D-L to Carbondale. County owned. Line passes through numerous communities and passes commerce and govermental insitution. Bus service provided along route on congested local streets. Rail line serves centers of each town it passes through and has proximity to strip malls and box stores. Eventually would feed NY-Scranton service.

Wilkes-Barre to Scranton, PA -- via Avoca. See above.

Maine Central Mountain Sub - St, Johnsbury, VT to Portland, ME. -- portions of this route serve viable end points for community rail. Most valuable? Sections from Fryeburg Ma to St, Johnsbury VT. Middle portion in tourist service, most of the rest OOS. Lower end of route's area plauged with traffic.

Old Colony Newport, RI Line - part currently in service for tourist and dinner trains. Rest OOS. Serves populated penninsula with heavy tourist trade and local commerce centers. Area plagued by traffic.

Bethlehem to Lansdale, PA -- Branch passes numerous communities. OOS at north end, frieght below. Would connect to commuter rail at Lansdale. Scenic route with tunnel for tourists. Area population is skyrocketing. Various "typical" gov't proposed programs have gone nowhere to reintroduce passenger rail.

Binghamton - Syracuse, NY -- ONTRack service on north end of route. Line leased by NYS&W. Online communities connected to gov't, commerce centers and colleges. Area known for dangerous driving conditions. Several communities could make viable mid-term end-points. Would connect to Amtrak at Syracuse.

> Please identify some of them as food for
> thought.


trains@robertjohndavis.com

> Please identify some of them as food for
> thought.
Perhaps the Middletown & NJ might be a candidate. If the post below is correct that the M&NJ has been sold to the one on-line customer, they might be willing to do something with the 14 miles of this 15 mile long railroad that are now out of service.

tstuy@nospam-eldcps.org

Links to British projects:

Wensleydale Railway is returning an abandoned line into a community railway and a tourist operation.

http://www.wensleydalerailway.com/home.asp

Steam operated Swanage Railway is seeking to re-establish daily service connecting to the national system.

http://www.swanagerailway.co.uk/

trains@robertjohndavis.com

Forgot about the NY&GL's effort to repopen the lower Boonton Line in North Jersey. Not quite a community effort, but close.

> Perhaps the Middletown & NJ might be a
> candidate. If the post below is correct that
> the M&NJ has been sold to the one
> on-line customer, they might be willing to
> do something with the 14 miles of this 15
> mile long railroad that are now out of
> service.


trains@robertjohndavis.com

Re: Wensleydale Railway

Will it be part of the Cheesie System? ;-)

Electric City Trolley Museum Association