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'The Railroad Oscars' Awards for N.Am. Railroads

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  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Oregon
  • 563 posts
'The Railroad Oscars' Awards for N.Am. Railroads
Posted by KBCpresident on Saturday, August 17, 2013 11:20 PM

If its alright, I would like to try something new. A contest of sorts, along the lines of the oscars, though much less formal. I don't intend to offend anyone, i'm just curious to see which roads will be nominated and which roads will end up winning. Again, no offense intended. Take these awards, and nominate the railroad you feel deserves it. If you would like to add your own award to the list of awards, you may do so, and I will add it to the overall list when I see it. Most likely CLass I or Class II and may be either current, or fallen flag

The awards:

Best Paint scheme                                       

Most Doomed RR ;)

Most colorful paint sceme

Most Historic RR

RR with the greatest recognition of its heritage

Most 'invasive' RR 

Most impressive Network

Best 'From something to Nothing' RR

Any Others?

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

"Ruby Line Service"

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Oregon
  • 563 posts
Posted by KBCpresident on Saturday, August 17, 2013 11:25 PM

My Nominations:

Best Paint scheme: ATSF's Warbonnet

Most Doomed RR: PennCentral

Most colorful paint sceme: Chessie System

Most Historic RR: Union Pacific (yes, these guys annoy me, but they were established in 1860-something...)

RR with the greatest recognition of its heritage: NS (high short hoods and heritage units)

Most 'invasive' RR: Canadien National (took over Canada, and now pretty much owns the great Lakes and New Orleans)

Most impressive Network: CMStP&P (stretching from the Midwest to the Pacific and even onto the Olympic Peninsula...)

Best Something to Nothing: Rock Island (Kinda disappeared overnight unless I'm mistaken

The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad

"Ruby Line Service"

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: MP 32.8
  • 769 posts
Posted by Kevin C. Smith on Sunday, August 18, 2013 3:01 AM

Some other nominations off the top of my head...

Most Doomed Besides Penn Central (because that one takes the trophy like the America's Cup "there is no second"): I might put in the Rock Island. I would also nominate it for Most Impressive Network for much the same reason...as has been said, it was the poor man's Burlington-going to all the same places, just the long way 'round. To the Twin Cities...but with no connections like GN or NP. Almost to Denver. Or Pueblo. Or whatever-just split the difference and call it good? Toward the Pacific...but making connection in Tucumcari? With the best route from there to Memphis...Okaaayyy. If the Q's slogan was "Everywhere West". The RI's could have been "Almost Everywhere". Impressive, indeed. But doomed.

Most Historic? The Baltimore & Ohio. First is foremost.

Most Invasive? I'd say Southern Pacific. Not content with California, it extended its writ to Portland (Ore), El Paso, Houston and New Orleans.

Best 'Something to Nothing'? I'd say the Milwaukee Road, casting off its Pacific Coast Extension and auctioning its remaining self off.

 

 

"Look at those high cars roll-finest sight in the world."

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