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Pikes Peak railroad pork barrel 100 million dollers

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Pikes Peak railroad pork barrel 100 million dollers
Posted by ronrunner on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 10:11 PM

that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding

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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 10:23 PM

ronrunner
that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding

The Broadmoor Hotel and Resort own the Pike Peak Railroad as a tourist attraction and provided most of the funds to rebuild the Tourist Attraction that brings tourism money into the surrounding area.

While tourism may not be legitmate in your mind, it is to many others.

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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 8:10 AM

BaltACD
While tourism may not be legitmate in your mind, it is to many others.

Industry without smokestacks.

A good number of businesses (especially restaurants) have closed recently because they lost their tourist base this past year.

And that hurts the local economy.

Trickle down does matter on a local basis.  The restaurant owner pays the wait staff, who buy groceries at the local grocery store, which pays the wages of the staff at the grocery store, who use that money to buy furniture, etc, etc.

 

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Posted by Enzoamps on Thursday, September 9, 2021 11:27 PM

Here in Michigan, tourism is second only to agriculture.  it is huge.  Pre-COVID we took in about $25 BILLION a year.  I'd have no issue with some group investing $100 million for a new large draw.

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Friday, September 10, 2021 7:24 AM

Near me is a State park called Starved Rock and 2 smaller ones.  They are close to a small town that is dependent on the park.  In 2020 they saw their budget for their town crashed by 75 percent when the governor of Illinois closed that park down due to COVID-19.  Trust me the dollars matter to locals.

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Posted by NittanyLion on Friday, September 10, 2021 1:09 PM

Also, just because Project X costs $200m and there's also Projects Y, Z, N, Q, and so on that need money, it doesn't mean X can't or shouldn't get money.

If Project Z requires $4b, the government isn't in a real position to go "well we're going to pocket the $200m to save up for Project Z.  Sorry Project X."  That's not how governments work or can work.  Project X has every right to funding that Project Z does too.  And if they're like "our Project X requires $220m to complete," it is much easier for the government to spend that $200m now to get X most of the way there.  Z will still get the $200m of their $4,000m they want, just in a different fiscal year when the puzzle pieces fit together better.  

There's also "when do you need it."  Project Z may not need that $200m until 2027, but Project X is behind schedule because it didn't come in 2018.

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Posted by York1 on Friday, September 10, 2021 1:31 PM

ronrunner

that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding

 

 

You posted this same thing on another thread the other day, and you got no support for your post.

Now you post it again on a new thread.

 

I'll sign my comment, "A rich tourist with too much time on my hands".  That's what you called people who will ride the cog railroad.

York1 John       

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, September 10, 2021 1:48 PM

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Backshop on Friday, September 10, 2021 1:52 PM

Maybe the Pikes Peak Cog gets more passengers than Amtrak routes? Big Smile

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Friday, September 10, 2021 4:23 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

   But then there's the other view:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".Devil

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, September 10, 2021 4:57 PM

Paul of Covington
 
CSSHEGEWISCH

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. 

   But then there's the other view:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".Devil

Try again but don't use the same tools and procedures that failed the previous time.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, September 10, 2021 5:24 PM

Paul of Covington

 

 
CSSHEGEWISCH

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

 

   But then there's the other view:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".Devil

 

If at first you don't succeed, perhaps skydiving is not for you. Clown

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, September 10, 2021 10:04 PM

Murphy Siding

 Paul of Covington

 CSSHEGEWISCH

Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

   But then there's the other view:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".Devil

If at first you don't succeed, perhaps skydiving is not for you. Clown

 

Couple of comments seem to be called for in this Thread.....

Colorado is a State that relies on its Tourism;    Both Skiing, Sightseeing And their Tourist Rails play a major parts in getting major groups of populations to spend major bucks  to travel there, and view their scenery....

The 'COG'  is currently oawned by the folks that own the Broadamore Hotel in Colorado Springs.  Trust me; they are NOT a fly-by night operation !  And they would never have spent that $100 million, if they thought they would n ot make it back in a reasonable time!   

Issue#2 :  Thge O.P. Mr. ronrunner  shows to have been a Forum member since  July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?), A MONTH[and a half, +- ] with 142 posts} might he be advised to slow down, and get comfortable; rather than building up his post 'count'...   OopsSigh  just sayin'........

 

 


 

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Posted by tree68 on Friday, September 10, 2021 10:35 PM

samfp1943
Mr. ronrunner  shows to have been a Forum member since  July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?),

That's just his latest screen name.  He's been around for a while.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, September 11, 2021 6:53 AM

samfp1943
The O.P. Mr. ronrunner  shows to have been a Forum member since  July of 2021 {a tad over, Maybe(?), A MONTH[and a half, +- ] with 142 posts} might he be advised to slow down, and get comfortable; rather than building up his post 'count'... 

I suggest you review how many of these 142 posts have had 'trolling' (or should we say, 'controversially intended') content... and compare with divebardave and certain other users over the years.

Personally I think of him as one of the Oswald Cobblepots of this community, and unless you particularly like harp music you might be advised to avoid those tar-baby threads assiduously.

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Posted by JC UPTON on Sunday, September 12, 2021 10:11 AM

ronrunner

that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding

 

 

NO TAX $$ INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION!!!

The $100 Million was entirely PRIVATE money, and totally rebuilt the track, purchased new trainsets & complete shop overhaul of some of the existing trainstes.

 

Planning to ride it in late October....

from the Far East of the Sunset Route

(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)

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Posted by JC UPTON on Sunday, September 12, 2021 10:11 AM

ronrunner

that serves no real legitimate public purpose when there are real passenger rail projects that need funding

 

 

NOT ANY PORK!!! 

NO  TAX $$ INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION!!!

The $100 Million was entirely PRIVATE money, and totally rebuilt the track, purchased new trainsets & complete shop overhaul of some of the existing trainstes.

 

My wife and I are planning to ride it in late October....

from the Far East of the Sunset Route

(In the shadow of the Huey P Long bridge)

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, September 12, 2021 8:44 PM

A faster way up Pikes Peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz-Llrb5FJc

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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, September 13, 2021 9:37 AM

The USA would loose jemns of importance if either the Pikes Peak or the Mt. Washington cogs ceased.

I find the headline opening this post most distasteful, in part because this broad brush could be applied to many other contributors to American civilization, incluing tourist rialroad operations.  To me, personally, it is even a libelous headline.

A disclamer?   Yes, I emjoued Pikes Peak and Mt. Washington, both more than once.   And I worked for and stayed at the Broadmore (arriving via the Colorado Eagle and a lift from the Palmer Lake towerman, a story posted a couple-of-years ago), but long before the Broadmore owners (possibly not even the same) Bought the cog railroad.

 

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Posted by Lithonia Operator on Monday, September 13, 2021 4:49 PM

It's not like if they don't do that project, they give Amtrak the money ...

Still in training.


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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Sunday, September 19, 2021 12:17 PM
Private money does what private money wants and that is how it should be. Attended god sons wedding at the AF Academy, back when you could enter without a pass, and part of that was brunch at the Broadmoor, took 2 hours. Intended to ride Pikes Peak RR but hit a day they either weren't running or we missed the last train, don't remember. Son and best man drove up instead, I was stuck with a van load of females that had no interest. Now that it's rebuilt, I'm going to do my part to help pay off the $100mil. Not taking the girls this time
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Monday, September 20, 2021 10:14 AM

In my youth, our family took the Manitou & Pikes Peak up to the summit and a limousine down as a package.  You get more scenery that way.  Unfortunately, it was the day after the Pikes Peak Hill Climb so any snow along the road was covered with dirt and dust.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul

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