The Bellefonte Operation should have a lot going for it.1. It is in a somewhat prosperous area with the high income State College -University PArk at the terminus in Lamont which is another charming victorian village next to State College that has a train store in the old PRR station.. It goes through some pretty interesting territiory even if it can not access the NBER main. It passes the front door of the imposing prison at Rockview (where you can drop off mis-behaving children).2. The imending completion of I-99 through the area really does put it on the map.3. Bellefonte is a really gem for the entire (i.e. the rest of the family) family!Maybe the RDC's are not the answer, but what would happen is a string of old EL cars would suddenly appear.I guess it needs a real community and political commitment. And if the EBT rises to its full potential Mt. Union is just over the next couple of ridges. With all the money the state wastes on tourism promotions, the investment in the critical mass of the state's railroad heritage sites would surely be a winner. Yes it is entertainment but these small tourist railroads funtion in areas that are pretty untouched which means there is something for mom and sister besides those big and ugly and noise "things". If and when the K4$ comes back Bellefonte would be the natural desitantion and the BHRR would be a natural extention. The folks in Altoona might want to team up and sell through one way tickets with a bus shuttle from Lamont to Tyrone.The state has pretty much lost its industrial base and it depends on tourism and growing padded government payrolls to fuel its economy.By applying some state money to improve the trackage to Lamont there might be a different attaction without all the inspection expense. It sseems to me that a three way partnership of SEDA-COG, NBER, the Bellfonte tourism interests including the RR could exercise sufficient leverage in the State of "Pay to Play" to salvage the operation and expend it.

. . . awww . . .I understand your point, but the very "shoestring" nature of these operations gave me a taste of old time short line railroading that I may never get to see again. I won't argue whether that is good or bad; I'm just glad I was there to experience it. The spit and polish of most tourist railroads and museums, the legions of uniformed volunteer conductors, all very necessary to properly deal with the public in this day and age, but not the way back woods railroading was done.One of my fondest memories was a Gettysburg Railroad mixed train that Sloan put on for our NRHS chapter back in the late 70's - a 2-8-0, half a dozen boxcars, and the combine. It was a good looking little train and a wonderful ride.Alan Maples

I'll see you that and raise you a 50-mile trip to Mt. Holly Springs behind 3254 with the open double-deck van carrier serving as a two-floored open car behind the loco's stack going north. THEN getting to Carlisle Junction and finding two freight cars unexpectedly left behind by the Conrail local, so they ran around and just backed up our train and coupled up the freight cars and departed south! THEN they got to Biglerville and met 76 and two cars, let them run around, and couple up to the back of the freight cars! To wit: 3254 pointed south, three passenger cars, freight car serving as a passenger car, two freight cars, two passenger cars, and 76 pointed north--a spontaneous "pushmi-pullyou" mixed train!Yes, I'm glad as heck I got to see the Cornell-style "last gasp" of old-style railroading before everyone from the FRA to the OSHA to the amusement park inspectors got involved. But such "seat of the pants" railroading, though entertaining and atmospheric to those who've dealt with railroading first-hand, looks totally unprofessional, hare-brained, and unsafe to the uninitiated. Think how you would feel if your Greyhound bus driver asked you to help pump up the flat tire he just patched! Heck, I love Carl Franz photo specials too, but I would NEVER inflict one upon an unsuspecting passenger expecting a nice, clean hour or two's entertainment! (I also love high-alcohol Imperial Stouts, "imperial India pale ales, and barleywines, and if I want to waste one I'll give it to the guy who just finished mowing a lawn, and watch him spray it across the lawn......)

Ed,I agree with you about Roaring Camp.I think also it is the only year round steam powered narrow gauge.Ted Miles

I understand your point, but the very "shoestring" nature of these operations gave me a taste of old time short line railroading that I may never get to see again. I won't argue whether that is good or bad; I'm just glad I was there to experience it. Alan Maples[/quote]Alan - I also appreciate the informal and colorful nature of the old time shortline and industrial railroads more than the mainlines, and wonder if there isn't a good venue for it somewhere within the tourist railroad industry today. I'm thinking about a railroad that feeds a "backwoods" mining or industrial attraction, or something located in a tourist area with a rustic theme perhaps? dave

If you are going to look west of PA why stop at the Pacific Coast?See www.puffingbilly.com.au