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[quote]QUOTE: Originally posted by tormadel Very true. There are many things to consider, but I don't know them all which is my problem. Also true I would intend to acquire my track from a Class 1. Building entirely new raillines in this day and age would require divine intervention as I see it. It's costing BNSF and UP billions just to double track and add sidings new CTC etc. This gives me the feeling that going to Mars may be cheaper then trying to build say the "Great Northern" for sake of example in todays world. But also to form a business plan I need to know where to get information, and I don't know where to get it. How much do locomotives cost? Which ones are the best bang for the dollar? Buy or lease the locomotives?(it seems the wiser choice is to lease the motivepower for financial reasons) How much does it cost to maintain them? Who will maintain them? What kinds of insurance will I need? How much will that cost? How do you figure the value of the railline? Buy or lease?(I have seen several mentions in recent years of new railways leasing they're right of way rather then out right buying it) To hire my own maintence people (perhaps the very ones that used to work it for the Class 1) or contract maintence? Buy our own fright cars or wait and see on demand for that. Will I need online car repair? (A rip track maybe) <Here's a big one> Will I have to accept expensive unionized labor I inherit from the class 1? Or will i be able to be more competitive with non-union labor hence lower overhead and better shipping rates. And worst of all I don't want to make a pain in the butt of myself and start Harrassing BNSF or NS for detials about parts of they're property I may be interested in without haveing some credability to back me up first. I'm sure they all have the crazy guy who calls saying there's a devil in that crossing gate downtown. <smile> [/quote] Most of these questions are resolved on a case by case basis. There is no cookie cutter in the RR business. You will need to weigh the pros and cons based upon your individual situation. The best thing you can do now is begin researching the many subjects you will need to know something about. Realize also that RRing is a team sport. You can never know everything yourself. You MUST know enough about everything to be able to supervise it adequately. I strongly recommend that you spend some time working for other RRs large and small before taking the plunge, if possible. The education alone is worth it, and although there are some down sides you are, after all learning on someone else's dime. LC
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