Twin Cities-Duluth Passenger Service May Be Returning

[coborn35]

No, we have a dispatcher. Ahh nevermind, you dont get it. I just dont want the NSSR changed drastically. Of course, me and James will proabably end up being manegment/engineers on the line. haha right James, just play our cards right with Ken. LOL

[CMSTPP]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kenneo

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Because Amtrak is late. We would have to have to have a dispatcher ready to put Amtrak in the hole for our trains.

What am I missing here?

You carry people on your train(s) -- aren't you supposed to have a dispatcher also?
A single freight can, under cesrtain sepcificed situations, operate without a dispatcher on duty. But, normally, if a train is operating on the railroad, there is a FRA requirement, codified in Federal Law, that requires a dispatcher to be on duty.

I don't see what the problem is.

I don't see the problem either but maybe a bit of explanation will help him to understand.

james

[kenneo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Because Amtrak is late. We would have to have to have a dispatcher ready to put Amtrak in the hole for our trains.

What am I missing here?

You carry people on your train(s) -- aren't you supposed to have a dispatcher also?
A single freight can, under cesrtain sepcificed situations, operate without a dispatcher on duty. But, normally, if a train is operating on the railroad, there is a FRA requirement, codified in Federal Law, that requires a dispatcher to be on duty.

I don't see what the problem is.

[Anonymous]

I think this would be a good idea to have but I would like to see a Overnight Minniapolis-Chicago Train similar to the North Star in the 80's.

[tatans]

Isn't this ironic? here we are with all this nifty so-called modern technology and the big news and excitement is : Lets Use Trains To Move People Around. What an exciting concept,let's take ALL the transportation money and spend it all on Highways and Airports, now someone says: I think I remember a long time ago we used to travel by train on short and long distances, maybe we should try this concept again as the other methods don't seem to be working, especially at $5.00 a gallon. Is there ever anything new or just recycled ? ?

[CMSTPP]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

Remember, the line they would have to use to get here would be through heavy industry, including UNDER the ore docks, where DMIR puts limestone trains, and where BNSF switchjobs run most of the day. It could be done, but I dont know how feasable it is. Commuter on the other hand, may be a good idea.

Max you have to remember that the Commuter will not be using any of the DMIR trackage. The old NP that ran through town will be restored and the commuter will by pass all of the industries except Rices point yard...And even that isn't cluddered during the day.
Plus I don't think we will have any problem with two trains a day. My goodness you sound like 40 trains a day will make there stop there. Only TWO!!!! Come on you sound like a non train fanatic!!

James

[coborn35]

Remember, the line they would have to use to get here would be through heavy industry, including UNDER the ore docks, where DMIR puts limestone trains, and where BNSF switchjobs run most of the day. It could be done, but I dont know how feasable it is. Commuter on the other hand, may be a good idea.

[Murphy Siding]

Wouldn't you be able to have contact with Amtrak, so you had plenty of advance warning about arrival time? How much time could they lose between the Cities and Duluth?

[coborn35]

Because Amtrak is late. We would have to have to have a dispatcher ready to put Amtrak in the hole for our trains.

[Anonymous]

Coborn35
How will one or two round trips by Amtrak clog your line or station? Does anyone know exactly what frequency is proposed?
Just think if this continues, 1st Illinois and now Minnesota it will be that much more difficult for congress and Mr. Bu***o ignore Amtrak and the rest of the rail infrastructure.

[CMSTPP]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

QUOTE: Originally posted by ottergoose

That would be really cool. Could make a connection with the tourist line and make it all the way up to Two Harbors from anywhere Amtrak serves.

No. I do not want Amtrak clogging our line. I want us to be seperate from the Commuter line as far as that goes. Plus there is no wye at Two Harbors except a small one. Very small.

Right now they are attemping to start renovating the depot...but I have NO idea how they are going to do it without interfering with our operation....

Max Medlin
Employed-North Shore Scenic Railroad
Volunteer-North Shore Scenic Railroad and Lake Superior Railroad Museum

First of all max. nothing would happen in the Summer with all the trains going. All has been planned to be rebuilt in the winter time when the trains are not running.
It would not take long to replace the surrounding track when you get a team of professional track layers from other railroads to do that. I am also hearing that all the track even past the switch on to the main lake front line is going to be replaced and the track through rices point yard will be replaced. By the time they are done renivating everything at the museum, my guess is you probably won't beable to recognize it. They have the plans to replace the plat form and extend the platform over head out abunch. That railroad is going to change allot here in the next four years.

James

Also an employee at the North Shore Sceneic railroad and Volunteer

[coborn35]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ottergoose

That would be really cool. Could make a connection with the tourist line and make it all the way up to Two Harbors from anywhere Amtrak serves.

No. I do not want Amtrak clogging our line. I want us to be seperate from the Commuter line as far as that goes. Plus there is no wye at Two Harbors except a small one. Very small.

Right now they are attemping to start renovating the depot...but I have NO idea how they are going to do it without interfering with our operation....

Max Medlin
Employed-North Shore Scenic Railroad
Volunteer-North Shore Scenic Railroad and Lake Superior Railroad Museum

[Anonymous]

Very interesting. A while back I was having breakfast in a cafe' in Isanti, MN (just
north of Bethel) and I couldn't help but overhear a meeting held by some supporters
of rail commuter service in the North Branch/Wyoming/White Bear Lake/Hugo area.
They were discussing the prospects of REBUILDING the former NP right-of-way
between White Bear Lake and North Branch (the former now operated by the
Minnesota Commercial and the latter by the St. Croix Valley RR), how to mobilize
community support, keep after politicians, deal with politicians who'll oppose the
plan, etc. The very concept of REBUILDING the former NP main, and ripping-up
the bike trail that was constructed over it gives me tremendous pleasure. I'd like
to know what the SCXY (owned at least in part I believe by Independent Locomotive
Leasing in Bethel, MN) would think of the plan - their ROW would get a HUGE
upgrade. Also - Bethel, MN has a substantial passing siding there but it's not very
often used by the BNSF for meets at least that I've heard over the radio, and serves
as the access to the Independent Locomotive Leasing shop. I'd almost think Isanti
with its unused siding would be a better choice - there's already public parking set
up there right by the rails.

[Zwingle]

Here is a more complete story. Most notable to me was this part:

"At Hinckley, a passenger train could travel along what's known as the Rush Line toward North Branch and into Union Station St. Paul, or along another set of existing tracks to Bethel, Minn., where the passengers could connect to the developing Northstar commuter train system, which received the final $60 million state payment for development after this year's legislative session.

About 24 miles of missing track along the Rush Line would have to be replaced."

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/14743346.htm

[Anonymous]

I'd be very interested to see how they renovate the old Duluth Depot. There's only one
track going into the building now for the tourist train service. All the other tracks save
for a few museum spurs were removed long ago for the freeway.

[ottergoose]

That would be really cool. Could make a connection with the tourist line and make it all the way up to Two Harbors from anywhere Amtrak serves.

[Anonymous]

[:D]

http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/s16756.html?cat=1

Looks like the BNSF Hinckley Sub could one day see passenger service
again (I hope so - the line runs 3 miles west of my place). I like it.