Chance of a lifetime

[Bergie]

If you were given the choice between getting a factory tour to see your favorite manufacturer's model trains produced, or riding in the cab of a locomotive for a day on a Class I railroad, which would you choose? Vote and then share your comments below.


Polls on Trains.com are not scientific and reflect only the opinions of the users who have chosen to participate. The results cannot be assumed to represent the opinions of Internet users in general, the readers of our magazines, nor the public as a whole. Bottom line, our polls are meant for fun and to stimulate conversation amongst our forum users.

[Anonymous]

Who wouldn't want to ride in the cab of a mainline loco>

[vsmith]

I'd take the tour.

But I'd want a tour of a real steam locomotive plant. Of course there are none left to today so you'de have to get ahold ot Steven Hawkins and discuss time travel, then you'de have to shoe-horn my big wide Irish backside into said time machine and send me back in time ala Ah-noold. Might cause quite a stir, me materializing butt-naked on the floor of the Baldwin factory in 1920. I'd say "I've come back in time to see how steam locomotives are made because it's a lost art in the future" and after seeing the process from start to finish (i've always wanted to see how Baldwin was able to knock out an engine is as little as 10 days) they would escort me to a little resort called "Happy Acres Sanitarium" where Elwood P. Dowd would introduce me to his 6 foot rabbit freind "Harvey"...

OK enough joking, But I would love to see the Baldwin plant at its peak.

[Anonymous]

I'll ride Donner's pass on the old sp tracks.FRED

[Anonymous]

The old CZ, Denver to Oakland

[bruce22]

Canadian steam: Edmonton to Vancouver and Calgary to Vancouver Two of the most scenic routes in North America.

[Anonymous]

As the nearest I get to cab rides is on my simulator, damn right, I'll take the train.

[detting]

I would only take the tour, if the manufacturer would give me some products to take home and test. But if TRIX is not going to give me a Free Big Boy, then I rather ride on the train.

Later...

[Anonymous]

I'm more of a steam fan, so I had to vote for the tour of the model making factory too. I really do appreciate the intricate detials and hard work that goes into a nice steam loco, and I'd like to see how it comes about.

[dphusman]

You have to take the cab ride!

[Anonymous]

Most definitely riding a locomotive would be the ultimate thrill!!! [:)][:D][:D][:D][:D][:)]

[dehusman]

I'd rather operate on a notable model railroad than either of the other choices.

[Anonymous]

Really not enough information to make a good decision. Since most model railroad equipment is now made in China, I would vote for the factory tour if that was the case. Otherwise, the cab ride would be more interesting.

[Anonymous]

Have seen manufacturing companies and have been involved with some, sooo It would be cab ride all the way - Feather River (Portola, CA to Oroville, CA).

[Anonymous]

I know a UP engineer who offerd to let me do just that. I just have to get down there and do it...

[Anonymous]

Now, if I could ride in the cab on the way to the factory tour.....PURE HEAVEN!

[Anonymous]

My favorite is steam also, but mine is still doable. I'd take a cab ride in a D&RGW narrow guage K-27. Cumbres & Toltec or Durango & Silverton.

[krustyb]

Cab ride.
Route: Roseville, CA to Sparks, NV over Donner Pass.
Late winter early spring.

[Anonymous]

NO question in my mind. A trip on the Empire Builder would be great.

[sparkingbolt]

A day in the cab, looking at the world as fhe RR sees it, the scenery, the "other side of the tracks". Yup.

[Anonymous]

I already know how most items are manufactured, and I have no desire to visit the far east to visit a mfg facility, or their banks, which is where most of our money is.

Give me a train ride every time it's offered.

[electromotive]

M.R. had an article way back in 89 on a tour of one of China' s large plants. Seeing how it is all put together would be very interesting..

Secong thought , Kato (Japan) would be my first choice..

[Anonymous]

I'd ride in the UP's restored challenger! A steam breathing behemouth at its large! Or maybe a ride in an FP45, that'd be cool. Of course I agree with detting, too. If Trix or Rivarrosi were to give me a free Big Boy (favorite loco, hence the user name!), that'd change everything.................

[Anonymous]

Defiantly a cab ride.!!!

[mcouvillion]

I've been in the cab for a short trip, and strapped my camcorder to the short-hood grab iron for essentially another. On a Class 1 with lots of traffic, I would expect to sit in the hole for hours on end and get to ride just a bit. I would prefer to see how the models are designed and built to accurately represent the real thing. Getting the detail accurately in miniature is pretty impressive. I'll build a camera into my own engine so that I get the feel of continuous running! Mark

[walthuston]

I have taken quite a few rides on quite a few railroads. My two cab rides were exceptional. I got to "drive" a Shay at a tourist RR and a B23-7 on the high iron (under very close supervision). I'd like to do that again...maybe a SD90-43, or a dash 8...actually, anything would be great. Ride the train!

Walt

[ShaunCN]

Riding in the Cab. Of course who wouldn't. What an experince that would be!!!!!!!!!

Shaun CN

[Anonymous]

I would just love to ride in the cab of a Big Boy, but know it can't happen. so i would settle for a ride on any big line.

[Anonymous]

Frankly, this is almost a no-brainer. A cab ride on the prototype would bring a whole new perspective to the scale model.

[Anonymous]

A difficult choice.

Locomotive: Hot, noisy, uncomfortable, nice view.
Plant: Hot, noisy, smells like chemicals, no view.
I'll go for an Amtrak observation car and a Martini