and yes connecting chama and durango is still on my mind
you would of course coordinate with the blishacks and mr levine of juniata terminal since the food would be meatless, kosher would not be a problem, as long as careful purchases were made, and there would be monthly inspection by an appropriate rabbi, a mashgia, as does any kosher restaurant
pardon my hopefully temporary difficulty with my caps key thanks
Daveklepper:
Give me a few minutes to figure out where I packed away my uniforms. I probably ought to have them freshly cleaned and pressed before we leave.
Oh ---- and, Dave ---- How much say will I have in hiring our chef?
Tom
Mookie I'd buy a house that is located right next to the tracks right here in our city. It is just big enough for 2 people and I would put a comfy chair outside and watch 6 BNSF tracks within a stones throw.
I'd buy a house that is located right next to the tracks right here in our city. It is just big enough for 2 people and I would put a comfy chair outside and watch 6 BNSF tracks within a stones throw.
That's just a little better than where I grew up. Back yard faces the South Shore Line and a short walk to see the CWI and N&W (NKP).
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
First, I'd buy CPRS and turn it into the kind of railroad it should be; i.e., double-tracking the Chicago - Twin Cities mainline and being a strong player in intermodal traffic (and bringing back trailers as well). Shoot, I may even reconstitute hauling livestock again. Next, I'd buy the IAIS to put the CPRS back out to Council Bluffs/Omaha and right the wrong that was committed in 1980. Then, for the coup de grace, I'd buy KCS and have a railroad stretching from Canada down to Mexico. I would also work closely with Amtrak in turning the Chicago - Twin Cities corridor into a HrSR corridor to allow 90-110 mph passenger service that would in turn allow our new intermodal trains to do 70 mph.
I forgot mention that near the site of the old Chase roundhouse, you could transfer your tracks to the old CNW branch that ran from Chase to the CNW depot. North of the Kinnickinnic river, the tracks paralleled the Milwaukee (now CP) main line, so a connection would be easy and would give your trains a route into the current Amtrak depot.
All this would be easy to do, all it would take is pockets the size of the Grand Canyon.
WGC
Someone mentioned the North Shore into Milwaukee, which might not be a bad idea. Much of the elevated right of way on the south side of Milwaukee still exists, I think now owned by the electric company. Much of it is unused, so purchase or lease might be possible. The route went through now built up areas in Racine and Kenosha, but it might be possible to work out a new route through those towns. Defiantly, you would have to go as far as Kenosha and you would certainly want to attract riders from those areas. Would it be profitable? Drive into Milwaukee from the south side some morning during rush hour and decide for yourself if people might like an alternative.
CGW
I live in Jerusalem, still have a lot of love for American railroading, and at 82 cannot tolerate a ten hours airplane journey in coach, or possibly even in first class. If I had infinite income. I would definitely by UP so it could have the same long-range investment strategy without worrying about investors that Buffet has given BNSF. Then of course the steam program would expand, and definitely the Challenger, Big Boy, and Northern would all be available with only one at most out of service at any one time. I would work with the State of California to restore the SP AC. and allow the museum to schedule its trips with UP cooperation. I would also allow "foreign" steam, especially the N&W J and the Daylight, to visit now and then after passing inspection by the UP's own steam crew. I would buy Chicago - St, Louis - KC passenger service from Amtrak and run it UP excellent style as a face for the public with hourly service to St. L and every two hours continuing on to KC, with Amtrak still continuing to run its own train to Texas. Armor Yellow, equipment styled to recall the original UP streamliners, but far more esthetic. But with regard to freight, I'd try to get the best management i could and give them all the support i could and stay out of the decision making as much as possible. I would, however, ask them to work with N&W on possible expansion of its Triple Crown service over UP lines to catch business that would not be had any other way, after the capacity improvement investments come on line, and new business can be handled well.
I'd then buy a Concord from a museum, turn it over to Israel Aircraft Industries, have it thoroughly rebuilt, and modernized, and lease it to El Al for twice monthly round-trips to the USA, alternating between Dulles and either Newark or Kennedy. It would then be possible for an Israeli or even a Saudi Prince to spend useful time in NY or DC and get back within 24 hours.
Of course by then there will be real peace, and the so-called Palestinians will have long ago stopped calling themselves by the names of idle-worshippers but call themselves Ishmaelites after the father of all Arabs, and thus the third Temple will have been built as a house of worship for all people without any destruction of either the Al Aksa Mosque or Dome of the Rock, and so I could enjoy a vacation in the USA and Canada. I'd arrange with Juniata Terminal for the equipment and the Bilshaks for the schedules, coordination with Amtrak, VIA, and short lines and cover lines I did not have the chance to ride, and others like the the Moffet and the Horseshoe that i rode frequently and still would enjoy. ACY would be along as Matre-d', and there would invitations to fellow railfans for various parts of the trip. (But the cuisine would be vegetarian-fish-dairy, Kosher) I would want to stop off at some of the new light rail lines that are reminiscent of the old interurbans, like St. Louis to Bellville and the San Diego East lines. And I would definitely want a turn at the controller of TATS 629 at Branford, possibly 4573 as well. And have a photo with me and "my" brick at whichever of the two new "elevated" car houses it is located.
OK. One reason I haven't participated until yesterday is the simple fact that I don't have the kind of business sense that it takes to run a real railroad. If the real question is "If you had an unlimited supply of money to spend on one or more railroad-related projects, what would those projects be?", then my answers would be directed towards preservation projects.
I agree with Jimmy that preservation of the East Broad Top would be a high priority, although full restoration of the entire railroad might be out of the question.
I think I'd sponsor the construction of some replica steam locos that could be operated without compromising the originals (possibly including E.B.T. engines).
I would identify threatened "orphan" railroad artifacts and work towards a goal of getting those items into the hands of appropriate preservation groups where those items would fit into those groups' overall schemes. Examples would be a M&StL 2-8-0 in Minnesota, one of only 2 M&StL steam locos in existence; the only surviving N.P. 2-8-2; an orphan G.N. 2-8-0 that used to be displayed in Seattle; the two surviving Baldwin "Shark" RF-16's, and several others.
I would NOT start another railroad museum, although reorganization and/or relocation of some existing museums might be a good idea, and I'd be willing to help with that. What's needed is more focused funding for the museums we have.
Concerning ACY's comment about the drift of this thread from Class 1 purchases to preservation purchases, I'd guess that most of us involved in the drift realize that railfan or not, even if we came into a ton of money that could make it happen in our heart of hearts we know we're not qualified to run a Class 1, not by a long shot. About all we'd do is buy in and then maintain a hands-off attitude, unless the people running the 'road were about to do something that defies all common sense. I know that's what I'd do. I suspect that's what Warren Buffett does as far as BNSF is concerned.
The rail museum - preservation thing? That's something we can get our minds around. Small, local, and easy to understand. Probably a lot more fun anyway.
When I have the money (ha ha ha) I will buy UP and NS and CN and KCS and FEC. UP will have to “fix” their heritage locomotives to conform the NS standard. CN and KCS will have new heritage locomotives following the NS standard. I will also foolishly rebuild the Key West Extension of the FEC.
I will build myself a new private train and travel North America on my private rail network with family and friends. One of the heritage locomotives from the home road will lead my private train. My heirs will decide what to do with it all after my ashes are scattered into the sea from the open platform observation bringing up the markers of my private train as it crosses the new seven mile bridge on the way to Key West.
Current management can stay so long as my private train gets where I want it to get when I want it to get there. I am re-investing what I don’t need to maintain my private train and travel lifestyle.
Thanks ramrod, this was a fun distraction from reality.
OK, I'll buy the old Maine Central to satisfy the requirements. I failed to mention the branch to Togus to serve the retired strippers home.
The Butler ACY I thought the O.P. was asking about realistic investments in the modern railroad industry. But it's turned into some kind of pseudo-preservation thing. Seems to me that hobby railroads ought to be a separate thread. As far as raiding a museum and running the wheels off of the prized exhibits, that's kind of irresponsible at best, and bordering on reprehensible. Maybe you can afford to have copies made and run the wheels off them. By the way, has anybody asked the Kovalchiks about a price for the E.B.T.? (Didn't think so.) Tom $8 million, according to East Broad Top Railroad, Orbisonia, Pa.
ACY I thought the O.P. was asking about realistic investments in the modern railroad industry. But it's turned into some kind of pseudo-preservation thing. Seems to me that hobby railroads ought to be a separate thread. As far as raiding a museum and running the wheels off of the prized exhibits, that's kind of irresponsible at best, and bordering on reprehensible. Maybe you can afford to have copies made and run the wheels off them. By the way, has anybody asked the Kovalchiks about a price for the E.B.T.? (Didn't think so.) Tom
I thought the O.P. was asking about realistic investments in the modern railroad industry. But it's turned into some kind of pseudo-preservation thing. Seems to me that hobby railroads ought to be a separate thread.
As far as raiding a museum and running the wheels off of the prized exhibits, that's kind of irresponsible at best, and bordering on reprehensible. Maybe you can afford to have copies made and run the wheels off them. By the way, has anybody asked the Kovalchiks about a price for the E.B.T.? (Didn't think so.)
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
James
I reconsidered... I would buy the entire EBT and everything included. Then I would restore the line, and get it to be the Durango and Silverton of the East. Oh, and have the 7 locomotives operate, more passenger cars,ec.
Wow, 2 foot hero??? That actually would be cheaper than you think, a 2 foot rail for passenger service is a great idea, but I have never seen one at a very high speed. Have you been inside the 1901 Rangeley Parlor car at the museum?? talk about the lap of luxury!!
Still straying from the class 1 idea, I'd rebuild the Sandy River & Rangely Lakes from Farmington to Bigelow to serve as exclusive transportation to a ski resort (or strip club) and extend it south to connect with the WW&F down to the coast. Build a nice group of modernized (superheaters, roller bearings, gas producer firebox) 2-4-4t's and 2-6-2's to pull those long diminutive consists full of happy folks and their gear. Perhaps an express car for the stacks of singles.
With the remainder of my gazillions, I'd buy the old PRSL from Winslow to Cape May, clean out the Pennsy collection at Strasburg, fix 'em up and run the wheels off "em!
I think I'd keep it small but sweet. For example I'd buy into the "Steam Into History" organization, you know the folks that are running that 19th Century style railroad in York County PA? I'd expand the fleet to several 4-4-0 types and figure a way to run the line straight to Gettysburg. I'm a sucker for those gorgeous old "American" types of the Civil War era.
Or maybe, just maybe, I'd buy the Susquehanna line in New Jersey, get ahold of one or two of the six surviving Russian Decapods, restore 'em and run steam on the weekends from Bergen to Sussex Counties. I rode one of the Susy-Q steam specials back in the '90s and it was a very scenic ride, especially when we got to the Skylands.
Don, that is what I have often thought of being a fine way to travel. Back before Amtrak began using the Superliners, it would have been wonderful to have one's own sleeping accommodations--and eat in the diner with other travelers. I planned, in my head, many trips, both before and after 4/30/71, whereby I could tour the country and visit friends and relatives, as well as see as much of the country as could be seen by rail. One advantage to such travel is going to bed and rising at decent times when leaving or arriving home.
Johnny
now THAT sounds like a plan Don
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
oltmannd zugmannIf I had the money to buy a class 1, I wouldn't buy any if them. I'd go and enjoy the rest of my life without the stress, agrevation, or work of having to own a class 1. +1 !
zugmannIf I had the money to buy a class 1, I wouldn't buy any if them. I'd go and enjoy the rest of my life without the stress, agrevation, or work of having to own a class 1.
+1 !
seems like a no brainer........+1
I agree. Excellent choice. But I think the same about UP, and it might have better long-term prospects. Growth states.
I'd back this plan. Rapid transit on CRANDIC simply must happen soon. There's good customer potential between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, not to forget the CR airport.
I kind of like the idea of making a loop in Iowa City and in Cedar Rapids to enclose more potential destinations. Some modern rolling stock, start with hourly trips, maybe 30 minutes apart in rush hour. Gotta love it. Nice thing is that traffic flow goes both ways there, not the typical one direction commute.
I'm sure that that there was some major resistance to diesels on CRANDIC rails in the late 1950's! At any rate, CRANDIC's current diesel roster is in the process of becoming more interesting.
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