Yes, as the big railroads modernize and cut the fat, there will be no room for steam. And without Amtrak to provide insurance, there will be no opportunities for public excursions, except for maybe UP. You’re going to have to travel to get to tourist lines with steam. Tourist lines that own their own track can run all the steam they want without a class 1 complaining. And large traveling locomotives can run on various tourist railroads to earn revenue with ticket sales. Like 765 and 611. People will travel this weekend to ride behind them even if it’s the same old track. In fact, 611 never ran on Strasburg before. I’m trying to get a hotel room and they are all booking or booked within 10 miles of Strasburg. I think the days of rare mileage excursions on freight only lines like NS are over. Including Amtrak Autumn Express and the 21st Century Steam program. I blew all my opportunities on riding Allentown-Harrisburg and NJ-Bethlehem segments and now I might never get another chance. Those lines are very rare to ride. Unless you get a job with NS or illegally hop a freight. I rode Bethlehem-Allentown and up to Lehighton and beyond on a 765 excursion.
|
|
