denverhank wrote:Like to hear how you guys felt about Renos new track alignments--any comments?
I don't know, I haven't seen it.
I liked the old "layout" just fine. Nothing like watching the helpers go by headed for Donner while standing in the middle of Reno.
well I heard some of the tracks are underground now--I be there and get close look at it on oct16th. Got all the donner series dvds and videos. But be much different now.
hanker
The only reason I might tot like it is because I was able to get that night shot of a train under the arch. But that's the way it goes. Other than, it dosn't bother me.
You know Kevin --I was thinkin about that also even tho it remains for me to look at yet. Your exactly right by saying is too close to the river that can often flood. Isnt it about 3-4 blocks away? All you need to disrupt is one good storm and you have a mess on your hands.
In comparison reasons look at it this way---I feel the higher arch platform would been the better choice. They seem to have no problem building casino domes and the like-why not the same for the rails? Spending some extra money for that and you be in better shape rather than facing an possible diaster. As time goes this is going be quite interesting to see what happens.
Reno is an charm city and always held an special love for me but, the direction way they going is not what the people wanted it.
hanker.
Yes I believe it did good job on the traffic tieup and been thru that. Good points Chad about the water flow--but knoowing how raging the truckie can get--may not be completely enough to avert big mess if major rager comes.
Case in point here--we just had our 30th thompson flood anniversary here and nothing worked to avert death and destruction still. Pumping stations helps but still cant completely ease the beast when nature wants do her thing.
Might add this too---- Last time was there was when the new station was just completed and the ground work was just underway. Did stayed at circus hotel. Sure looking forward to going in October again and probadly will take good pix of new stuff. Yep Reno is my good luck spot. still remains a charm after all these years.
denverhank wrote: I feel the higher arch platform would been the better choice. They seem to have no problem building casino domes and the like-why not the same for the rails? Spending some extra money for that and you be in better shape rather than facing an possible diaster. As time goes this is going be quite interesting to see what happens.
I feel the higher arch platform would been the better choice. They seem to have no problem building casino domes and the like-why not the same for the rails? Spending some extra money for that and you be in better shape rather than facing an possible diaster. As time goes this is going be quite interesting to see what happens.
I seem to recall that the objection to the elevation was that it was felt the embankment would divide the city-visually, at least. I can understand the concern. I think the elevated approch to the PRR's old Broad Street Station in Philadelphia was nicknamed the "Chinese Wall" and in Chicago, the area to the west of North Western Station was quite a different looking neighborhood than the block east of it. (Note: I do not mean the Ogilvie Transportation Center. North Western Station it was built, North Western Sation is how I remember it and North Western Station it always shall be. Sorry-just a rant I had to get out of my system...)
Also, now that the trench is operating-does Amtrak still stop at Sparks for servicing? I can't recall if they did or not on my last trip.
The middle of last month I brought up this same conversation because at the end of my visit to Tahoe, my little family stayed at the El Dorado to shorten the travel time to the airport since our flight was heading out at 6am. We got back into Reno about 6, had dinner, then drove up and down along side the tracks for over a half an hour trying to see at least one trains to my my son happy. No luck so we checked in. I was able to upgrade to the 8th floor suite with a view of the corridor. The rest of the night I spent with my face pressed against the glass hoping to catch a look at anything in that ditch. Nothing came until the next morning when it was time to head out, I heard a train. Turns out that even from the 8th floor I still couldn't see the passing train. It was too deep. The whole experience pissed me off, but I learned my lesson and will make sure that my room next time will be higher.
I think that it is a neat peice of railroad engineering, and very good for the city.
--Zak Gardner
My Layout Blog: http://mrl369dude.blogspot.com
http://zgardner18.rrpicturearchives.net
VIEW SLIDE SHOW: CLICK ON PHOTO BELOW
I've been thinking about the Sparks question. I have spent a lot of time at Sparks (although many years ago) and I dont ever remember the 5 or 6 ever being serviced in Sparks. The Reno Fun Train from the bay area would get serviced there though. But that was only a weekly train.
chad thomas wrote: I've been thinking about the Sparks question. I have spent a lot of time at Sparks (although many years ago) and I dont ever remember the 5 or 6 ever being serviced in Sparks. The Reno Fun Train from the bay area would get serviced there though. But that was only a weekly train.
Part of the charm of Reno were the railroad tracks at street level bisecting the downtown area. I always got a charge out of witnessing the imminent passing of a train as the crossing bells would first begin to ring, the flashers would come to life, and the gates would lower majestically thereby bringing automobile, truck, and pedestrian traffic along Virginia Street to a grinding halt.
And then came the "piece de resistance:" a long and heavy westbound mixed merchandise with two battalions of hard charging diesel locomotives - one on each end - roaring at the top of their lungs as they put every bit of hustle muscle they had into their assault of the Sierras with big tonnage in tow. Or equally as magnificent: another mixed merchandise screaming in high dynamic as an assortment of dark-gray-and-scarlet colored steel stallions did their best to control the big tonnage pressing against them as the train advanced eastwards along the descending grade towards a crew change at nearby Sparks. It was as fine a show full of drama and spectacle as one could ever hope to find anywhere along The Overland Route.
No, dear friends, I cannot comprehend, any which way, how the newly opened "Reno Trench" could ever be seen as a civic improvement!
denverhank wrote:Lets keep this Reno train thread goin--any more good reno stories to be told? Feel free to posts em!!!
What happens in Reno...stays in Reno!
Seems rather surprising how it is now. Guess has turned into watch fully your stuff or be gone. Thanks for the advance warning brad.
Am wondering does anyone have a pix of the trench?
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.