The day the spit hit the fan!...

[Tracklayer]

Those of you from Texas might remember the proposed high speed bullet train that was planned to run from Dallas to Austin to Houston and back to Dallas again back in the early 90s. Well. I got caught up in that mess without really meaning to...

It all started when our local paper published an article about the train, and that there would be a town meeting about it. At that time, I just happened to have an N scale Bachmann TGV bullet train on hand, and decided to build a diorama "out of my own pocket" to put on display at one of the local businesses for people to see so that they would have some idea of what the train would look like if it ever became reality. At first, the manager of the business where I put it on display welcomed me with open arms, but within just a few days called me and told me to come and get the display or he was going to throw it in the dumpster...
What had happened was that those that were against the train project had accused the store manager of advertising the train, and threatened him that if he didn't remove the diorama that they were going to call the news agencies, picket the store and see to it that he lost his job for taking up sides with the train organization and defying the good of the community. Then they started calling me at home and blessing me out at all hours of the day and night causing me to have to have my phone number changed. The local paper even did an article with a front page picture of me and the diorama, and I had to write a letter of retraction that the store in question was not involved nor guilty of what the protesters had accused them of. I won't ever stick my neck out like that again!... Live and learn.

Tracklayer

[Anonymous]

Isn't it amazing the anti-train crowd can carry so much venom? We have a rail to trail issue in our town, the City, Park District, and newspaper are all anti-rail. The paper gives all the pro press on how great the trail will be but leaves out the crime element (we have the highest per capita muder rate right now, 2-3 shootings/murders per month in a city of 150,000) and how the gangs and dealers, will use the trail to run, cut across for sales etc, the land owners don't want it, but again no press. The past rail company wanted to keep the line, it is still in use, was eveicted, yet the paper smeared it to sound like they up and left, then the new rail provider, who is willing to do what ever the city wants, on their first day had a run a way train, crossed 7 intersections unflagged and unprotected going 30 mph threw very busy streets, luckely no one was hurt, but smashed into 3 train cars and layed the rail on it's side. Guess what, no press at all.

I feel for you, if you feel strongly about the servive, I wuld rally and find some local railfan groups to get behind you and present the facts. Most folks look at trains as a hinderance to their getting places, late for work and so on.

PRO-RAIL!!!

[SpaceMouse]

Adversity is not a good reason for not doing what is right. But I understand in this case.

[Anonymous]

Tracklayer,
what shamefull behaviour from Texans.., I am sorry you had to put up with such mean childish behaviour, some people just aint worthy the powder to blow em up, as my Grandfather used to say.

Peace.
Coyote

[davekelly]

It's not just the anti-train crowd. It seems that civil, fact based discussion and debate is falling further and further away. It is easier to yell at someone and call others "tree huggers" "war mongers" "unpatriotic" "holier than thou" "devil worshipers" etc etc than to sit down and discuss the pros and cons among those with opposing opinions. Of course shouting maches and name calling is so much more fun and doesn't require an ounce of research or knowledge. We've become the land of the 30 second sound bite - if it takes longer than that to explain something - it must be wrong which may explain the why candidates to a national office actually debated the email tax (remember that urban legend?) and bunches are forwarding emails waiting for Bill Gates to give them their 10,000 dollars. Of course, when things don't go right because no one took the time to analyze the problem prior to acting, then it's finger pointing time.

It was quite sad and humerous at the same time when folks in this town were arguing the merits of the Harry Potter books and Power Ranger TV shows. I would say that 90 percent of the people that had an opinion one way or another (and were often litterally the loudest and most venomous on both sides) never read the book nor watched the shows.

To me the biggest indicator is a simple poll. Ask 10 co-workers to name their governor, representative and one senator. Then ask them to name 1 contestant on Survivor, the Apprentice and another "reality show."

[rrinker]

I really hate to see a business give in to this pressure - because seldom does it actually work! The most rabid people have the SHORTEST memories, and they would be right back there buying what they need in short order.
Of course, these people are probably the same ones screaming the loudest about the price of gas, being that they were so much against an alternate form a transportation.

--Randy

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse

Adversity is not a good reason for not doing what is right. But I understand in this case.

Oh Chip, you should have heard them. One woman said she would include me in her law suit against the state if they tried to take her property away for the right of way (right). Another guy said he owned a dairy, and that the noise alone from the train going by every day would disturb his cows to the point that they wouldn't give milk... None of them would listen to reason, and no amount of money meant anything to them. They even tore down bill boards with ads on them about the train proposal. It was terrible... I didn't want to see anyone have to give up their home or property. I was just trying to do a service to the community, not sale or advertise anything...

Tracklayer

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

Another guy said he owned a dairy, and that the noise alone from the train going by every day would disturb his cows to the point that they wouldn't give milk...

That argument was being used back in the days of Stephenson's Rocket - wonder if he knew how old it was. All you need now is some "learned individual" claiming that people will be unable to breathe at speeds in excess of 30MPH...[:D]

[TrainFreak409]

I'm pro-rail all the way!

That is something...The thing that really gets me is the woman saying that she would include you in her lawsuit. I guess she didn't realize how stupid she sounds there. Just because you build a model of the to use as a representation doesn't mean that you are truely influencing anyone. If anything, you are helping them make a better informed decision because they have something to look at. Unless she got a real good lawyer, or the judge isn't the sharpest lightbulb in the Pop-Tart box, I don't see how it would fly. And because you did it voluntarily backs you up more; you are in no way affiliated with the town.

They are probably complain now. They now have to pay out the butt for gas, when they could have easily commuted on the train. Tisk tisk tisk.

Do you have any pictures of the diorama?

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

I'm pro-rail all the way!

That is something...The thing that really gets me is the woman saying that she would include you in her lawsuit. I guess she didn't realize how stupid she sounds there. Just because you build a model of the to use as a representation doesn't mean that you are truely influencing anyone. If anything, you are helping them make a better informed decision because they have something to look at. Unless she got a real good lawyer, or the judge isn't the sharpest lightbulb in the Pop-Tart box, I don't see how it would fly. And because you did it voluntarily backs you up more; you are in no way affiliated with the town.

They are probably complain now. They now have to pay out the butt for gas, when they could have easily commuted on the train. Tisk tisk tisk.

Do you have any pictures of the diorama?

You should have seen the diorama TrainFreak409. It included everything I could think of that I felt people would have questions about. The train itself was on an elivated right of way with openings in it every so often to allow cattle to cross over from pasture to pasture and for farmers to get their tractors and equipment through. There was an overpass going over the tracks for automobiles. I even included a little town with kids playing in a park. The woman that threatened to include me in the law suit said that I made it all look oh so simple as if it would fit right in and be accepted by everyone-except her... She was a real witch. One guy even told me that he thought about taking his foot and kicking the display off its pedistal, but was afraid that he might go to jail for it, which was his only reason for not doing so.

And yes. I have several good pictures of the model, and also copies of the news paper articles. The only problem is I have no way to post them here on the forum... [V]

Tracklayer

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

I'm pro-rail all the way!

That is something...The thing that really gets me is the woman saying that she would include you in her lawsuit. I guess she didn't realize how stupid she sounds there. Just because you build a model of the to use as a representation doesn't mean that you are truely influencing anyone. If anything, you are helping them make a better informed decision because they have something to look at. Unless she got a real good lawyer, or the judge isn't the sharpest lightbulb in the Pop-Tart box, I don't see how it would fly. And because you did it voluntarily backs you up more; you are in no way affiliated with the town.

They are probably complain now. They now have to pay out the butt for gas, when they could have easily commuted on the train. Tisk tisk tisk.

Do you have any pictures of the diorama?

You should have seen the diorama TrainFreak409. It included everything I could think of that I felt people would have questions about. The train itself was on an elivated right of way with openings in it every so often to allow cattle to cross over from pasture to pasture and for farmers to get their tractors and equipment through. There was an overpass going over the tracks for automobiles. I even included a little town with kids playing in a park. The woman that threatened to include me in the law suit said that I made it all look oh so simple as if it would fit right in and be accepted by everyone-except her... She was a real witch. One guy even told me that he thought about taking his foot and kicking the display off its pedistal, but was afraid that he might go to jail for it, which was his only reason for not doing so.

Tracklayer

You sure you weren't at the Dome in New Orleans, sounds like about the same fantical (sp) reaction. Are you still looking to support the proposed rail project? I hope so. Are there any other backers to the plan?

[csmith9474]

The ROW would have been about 1/2 mile from my house. I believe the ROW was supposed to be 200 ft wide or something like that. I grew up in a rural area and the agricultural was up in arms about loosing acreage and accessibility to their fields. The railroad museum that I volunteered at did score a HO TGV set from that group. Really cool, but the traction tires dry rotted.

[Anonymous]

Just another reason not to go to texas.

[steveblackledge]

TRACKLAYER,,, those folks would still have us writing on slate with a rock if they could get there way, we have them over here, i think i work with most of them

[csmith9474]

Intercity rail travel in Texas is down, but not out. There is a new highway project that will connect Austin to Seguin with an I-10 interchange. Between the lanes will be a right of way for future rail service. From what I understand, all new highway construction will be like this. Hopefully somebody will do something with it. And BTW, don't cast stones Stuckarm.

[Anonymous]

Luckily we live on a rail line which has service to either Chicago or Toronto once a day. That should help my buddy who is house bound at $80. a tankful for his pickup. He probably would have supported the train then as much as he would be likely to now ( *** liberal!). Well let us hope that those providing the "blessings" then are now as focused on the oil companies and those vicious people who "made" them buy thuse SUVs. May their blessings come home to roost!
Will ... just another one of those *** unAmerican liberals!

[trainboyH16-44]

Wow, some people are really anti train![:O] I never knew that some people could be so violent towards someting as nice as a well modeled diorama.
Some people are just crazy, eh?
trainboy

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Wow, some people are really anti train![:O] I never knew that some people could be so violent towards someting as nice as a well modeled diorama.
Some people are just crazy, eh?
trainboy

I think this attitude was more prevelant in the ag community more than anywhere else. There was a lot of concern in regards to urban sprawl. There were even plans to build an international airport on the site where the New Braunfels Municipal Airport is pending the construction of the line. That really stirred up a stink in the area. Just think, having TGV that close to your house, and the greens and farmers blew it.

[AntonioFP45]

Tracklayer,

Don't let that incident get you down. Since it looks like gasoline prices are going to stay near or above the $3 per gallon mark in the U.S, it's very likely that attitudes will be changing towards high speed rail, especially with the younger "20 something" generation moving up in economic influence.

Part of the reaction you witnessed likely tied in with the enormous amount of anger generated from the recent Supreme Court decision earlier this year in which the liberal judges actually voted to make it much easier for local governments to seize land for public use. Eminent Domain. The case in question was in Connecticut, I think. If you watched the news months back, people around the country (including me) were outraged. So now here comes this bullet train issue again in your community, people still have this case fresh in their minds!

Give it time. There's even more support for Amtrak from the general public than before. I think we will see at least one true bullet train system in the U.S before 2015.

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csmith9474

The ROW would have been about 1/2 mile from my house. I believe the ROW was supposed to be 200 ft wide or something like that. I grew up in a rural area and the agricultural was up in arms about loosing acreage and accessibility to their fields. The railroad museum that I volunteered at did score a HO TGV set from that group. Really cool, but the traction tires dry rotted.

What is the ROW? Was that the proposed train service?

I would love to see the diorama Tracklayer. So you don't have a scanner or anything? Jeesh, get with the 21st century.[:p] I have an All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, $90 from Staples.[8D]

[DavidGSmith]

Its funny,here I thought that both our countries were based on freedom of speech and the right of a person to a point of view. Texans in particular. Guess its ok as long as its the same as theirs. We have the uninformed lunatic groups here in Canada to.

[DrummingTrainfan]

Here in Nebraska there is a fight to get light rail between Omaha and Lincoln. The naysayers are saying that there wouldn't be enough riders, but there is a projected "beltway" to go around the city that we supposedly need. If we build the light rail it at least has the chance to recoup costs...the highway can't do that unless they charge tolls or something. Plus, the light rail will put less exhuast in the atmosphere.

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

I'm pro-rail all the way!

That is something...The thing that really gets me is the woman saying that she would include you in her lawsuit. I guess she didn't realize how stupid she sounds there. Just because you build a model of the to use as a representation doesn't mean that you are truely influencing anyone. If anything, you are helping them make a better informed decision because they have something to look at. Unless she got a real good lawyer, or the judge isn't the sharpest lightbulb in the Pop-Tart box, I don't see how it would fly. And because you did it voluntarily backs you up more; you are in no way affiliated with the town.

They are probably complain now. They now have to pay out the butt for gas, when they could have easily commuted on the train. Tisk tisk tisk.

Do you have any pictures of the diorama?

You should have seen the diorama TrainFreak409. It included everything I could think of that I felt people would have questions about. The train itself was on an elivated right of way with openings in it every so often to allow cattle to cross over from pasture to pasture and for farmers to get their tractors and equipment through. There was an overpass going over the tracks for automobiles. I even included a little town with kids playing in a park. The woman that threatened to include me in the law suit said that I made it all look oh so simple as if it would fit right in and be accepted by everyone-except her... She was a real witch. One guy even told me that he thought about taking his foot and kicking the display off its pedistal, but was afraid that he might go to jail for it, which was his only reason for not doing so.

Tracklayer

You sure you weren't at the Dome in New Orleans, sounds like about the same fantical (sp) reaction. Are you still looking to support the proposed rail project? I hope so. Are there any other backers to the plan?

I'm always supportive of new and better ways of doing things, but I really don't want to see anyone lose their homes and/or properties in the process... If they had planned on putting the train up on an elivated system that would have been say 25 feet in the air, and business could have go on as usual, then that might have been okay, but the plan was to cut straight across what ever lay in its path... The whole thing finally came to a dead end, and was scrapped altogether. A while back, there was talk of using existing rail lines to run commuter trains from down town Houston out to the surrounding rural areas to help cut down on the city traffic problem, but I haven't heard anything about it since then.

Tracklayer

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409



I would love to see the diorama Tracklayer. So you don't have a scanner or anything? Jeesh, get with the 21st century.[:p] I have an All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, $90 from Staples.[8D]

Jee***rainFreak409. You send me the $90.00 and I'll go buy the All-in-One printer/scanner/copier from Staples so you can see the pictures of the diorama... Otherwise, you'll just have to do like we did "back in the old days" and use your imagination.

Tracklayer

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409



I would love to see the diorama Tracklayer. So you don't have a scanner or anything? Jeesh, get with the 21st century.[:p] I have an All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, $90 from Staples.[8D]

Jee***rainFreak409. You send me the $90.00 and I'll go buy the All-in-One printer/scanner/copier from Staples so you can see the pictures of the diorama... Otherwise, you'll just have to do like we did "back in the old days" and use your imagination.

Tracklayer

Well, as you can see, from SB Locomotives, my imagination is pretty strong. It's not like I don't use it. It's hard to imagine anything when one knows little information on it. I have been imagining what it would look like, although I think it is nothing close to what the real thing would be.

My imagination is quite active thank you. I enjoy using it and being as creative as possible.

I may be over reacting, use an emoticon next time, those are the only emotions we can show on this forum. With your comment, I interpret that as you saying that I have lack of imagination, thus comparing me with the stereotypical teenager, which always rubs me the wrong way.

I really hope you are joking with your comment, as I was with mine.

I've blown off my steam...[V]

[Tracklayer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409



I would love to see the diorama Tracklayer. So you don't have a scanner or anything? Jeesh, get with the 21st century.[:p] I have an All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, $90 from Staples.[8D]

Jee***rainFreak409. You send me the $90.00 and I'll go buy the All-in-One printer/scanner/copier from Staples so you can see the pictures of the diorama... Otherwise, you'll just have to do like we did "back in the old days" and use your imagination.

Tracklayer

Well, as you can see, from SB Locomotives, my imagination is pretty strong. It's not like I don't use it. It's hard to imagine anything when one knows little information on it. I have been imagining what it would look like, although I think it is nothing close to what the real thing would be.

My imagination is quite active thank you. I enjoy using it and being as creative as possible.

I may be over reacting, use an emoticon next time, those are the only emotions we can show on this forum. With your comment, I interpret that as you saying that I have lack of imagination, thus comparing me with the stereotypical teenager, which always rubs me the wrong way.

I really hope you are joking with your comment, as I was with mine.

I've blown off my steam...[V]

Come on brother railroader. Don't ever let anything I say get under your skin. I was just having some fun with you. I hardly ever use the emoticons, but rather try and get my message across with words - though I'm not always successful and tick someone off every now and then...

Since you were insulted by what I said, I feel I owe you a better discription of the diorama. It was N scale, and about 3' X 3' and had a green grass matt covered base. The right of way ran across the back of it from left to right, and there was a typical small Texas town in the front with all of the basic businesses and so forth. The main street of the town went over an overpass that crossed over the right of way. Like I said earlier, there were openings under the right of way to allow cattle and farm equipment through. It had a blue sky back ground with white clouds and glass around it to protect it from little hands. I spent about a week building it at a cost of about $100.00 or more out of my own pocket.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Tracklayer

[TrainFreak409]

Thanks TrackLayer, I get a better picture with that.

All is well.[:)]

[Darth Santa Fe]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

picket the store and see to it that he lost his job for taking up sides with the train organization and defying the good of the community

Next thing you know people will be running at UP and BNSF trains with torches, pitchforks and other dangerous tools.[:0] All it takes is one person to start a mob.

Defying the good of the community? A passenger train would HELP the community, not go against it. It would give people another way to be transported to where they want to go. That's like starting a McDonald's and being picketed out for some stupid reason about going against the community.[B)]

I remember one time a few years ago, a person sued McDonald's because the food that SHE bought for HER daughter made HER daughter fat.[%-)] If she were smarter, she would have bought food from Subway or some place that has healthier food.

[csmith9474]

QUOTE: Originally posted by TrainFreak409

QUOTE: Originally posted by csmith9474

The ROW would have been about 1/2 mile from my house. I believe the ROW was supposed to be 200 ft wide or something like that. I grew up in a rural area and the agricultural was up in arms about loosing acreage and accessibility to their fields. The railroad museum that I volunteered at did score a HO TGV set from that group. Really cool, but the traction tires dry rotted.

What is the ROW? Was that the proposed train service?

I would love to see the diorama Tracklayer. So you don't have a scanner or anything? Jeesh, get with the 21st century.[:p] I have an All-in-One printer/scanner/copier, $90 from Staples.[8D]

Sorry dude; ROW = Right of Way

[railroadyoshi]

Scott, I asume that ROW was right-of-way.
Personally, i think the intercity line would be very cool, I used to live in Houston, man was that one tiring drive from Houston to Dallas.