The two cars from the now defunct "Cooper King Express" came through Eola yesterday eastbound...they were tacked onto the very rear of an eastbound general merchandise freight and sat on Main 1 from about Noon until about 4 p.m. when they pulled out. Photo below is not mine but depicts what the cars look like. Does anybody know who has purchased these cars?
Jim,
I'm not sure who bought the cars but I actually saw them twice yesterday (Sunday 3-14-10). The first time was around 4:30p at the end of a train crossing LaGrange Rd in LaGrange, IL heading east into the BNSF yard at 31st and Austin in Chicago. I then saw them later that evening around 11:30p heading south near 55th and Central in the direction of the larger BNSF yard at 65th and Harlem in Bedford Park.
From that yard they could go anywhere north, south, or east so hopefully someone else searches for the Copper King Express on Google and posts their sighting.
Scott to the forums!
Jim&Scott:
Personally, I had not heard of the "Copper King Express" so I took the earlier advice and Googled it. Found this item from the website of a local paper so I'll link it here:
http://www.helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/article_bc6a248c-0e2f-11df-9eb6-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story
I had hear of the forerunner line ( the electric short line B,A&P RR). (Excerpt here)
By George Plaven, Montana Standard | Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2010 12:00 am | (0) Comments
ANACONDA — After four years ushering passengers between historic Anaconda and Butte, the Copper King Express is off the rails and facing an uncertain future.
Patriot Railway, parent company of the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway, decided to close the tourist train upon evaluation late last year. Its two passenger cars went up for sale at the beginning of January, said former director of excursions Dona Simmons.
The Copper King took its last trip Nov. 29, and two more runs scheduled in December were canceled due to weather.
“We always had positive feedback, but never enough riders,” Simmons said. “The company held onto it as long as it could.”
The train never turned a profit since its inaugural year in 2006, Simmons said. Riders went 36 miles, she said, from Anaconda into Ramsay, passing through Durant Canyon and taking in an interactive narrative of the area’s history.
Ultimately, Patriot Railway decided to focus more exclusively on the freight aspect of its operations, Simmons said..."
What I found also interesting was that while the tourist operation was in effect the hosting RR apparently changed from Rarus Rail to Patriot Rail (arn't these the same guys who own the FECRR?). Anyhow management is in florida (long way from Big Sky Country.
This is a link to a publicity blurb from Patriot Rail on their purchase of Rarus Railroad: http://www.allbusiness.com/services/business-services/4328463-1.html
here is an interesting comment in the piece"...The acquisition, from the McCarthy family of Anaconda, Montana includes the Copper King Express, a popular excursion train that last year carried approximately 10,000 round-trip passengers between Anaconda and Butte..."
Seems like hauling 10,000 passengers it would be profitable (my thought).
Then you read some of the blog comments and one is lead to believe that in its last season, the passenger on a slave ship from Africa would have had a more comfrotable trip than the one the "Copper King" offered.
But the comments seemed to run the gammut of the scale.
seemingly fairly favorable : http://here4now.typepad.com/here4now/2009/08/anaconda-mt.html
seemingly some pretty bad: http://montanafem.blogspot.com/2006/07/copper-king-express-to-hell.html
At anyrate, exploring the comments was interesting and eye opening, just google Copper King Express and wade in!
Thanks Jim & Scott for the suggestion.
bigsparky65 I do not know, but they are setting in Honesdale,PA as of 6/13/2010.
I do not know, but they are setting in Honesdale,PA as of 6/13/2010.
CooL, Thanks, Big Sparky!
AND
Welcome to this Forum
Any ideas as to their final destination? Anybody?
Somebody is confusing Patriot Rail with RailAmerica (Related to FEC via Fortress Group)....(although Marino was also the vision behind RailTex)
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