Maybe we can learn something from the "me too" movement concerning a special train on rails they do not own: No means "NO!".
nathansixchime posted:We're working on an addition to the Joliet Rocket that will test the market for something that is more of an "enhanced" experience that's one up on open-vestibules. It should be second best to riding in the tool car. Keep your September open...
Now that is intriguing!!
What, 765 with two open window coaches on CVSR? That has been done before. I doubt even a commuter railroad like Metra would allow older open window coaches on the train especially if they still had their older bearings. Dominic do you mean no as in NS is really saying NO to 611 excursions now with no exceptions? Just like what happened end of 1994 when NS quit the steam program? What happened to the deal to run 611 with Amtrak? Did that fall through? So, 611 will be parked this year, except maybe a run home to VMT. The thing is from Sept 1982 to Dec 1994 611 was allowed to roam more over the NS system. It went to Chicago August 1983 it pulled trips out of the CNW station. It went to Atlanta, Jacksonville FL, Fort Wayne, Erie PA, Buffalo NY and more places. From 2015-2017 it was restricted to VA and NC. You can only run the same route so many times before the novelty wears off. Of course, for tourist railroads like Strasburg all they have is their 4 1/2 miles of track yet they get ridership. If you want big steam this year you’ll have to head to Denver July 21 and maybe Minneapolis if 261 runs. And wherever 765 is running like Chicago, Owosso, or CVSR. With 611 ridership wasn’t the entire problem, NS simply doesn’t want the headache of hosting excursions anymore. It was Wick who pushed for a new steam program and now he is no longer CEO of NS. He just retired from Amtrak.
My family and I rode many Southern/NS steam excursions from 1974-1993 under the influence of such notable men as the Claytor brothers, Jim Bistline, Robert Soule, Bill Purdie and others and those trips were nothing short of spectacular: FAST running steam, OPEN vestibules, a diverse fielding of steam engines and a FRIENDLY railroad to run on! I once remember riding behind 4449 in Freedom Train livery on a Birmingham, AL to Chattanooga, TN trip doing 80+ mph. I could barely get my breath in that vestibule on the return trip. The late David Morgan and Rogers Whittaker (E.M. Frimbo) sat across from my wife and I! Those WERE the glory days of steam celebrated in Jim Wrinn's fine book, Steam's Camelot!
nathansixchime posted:We're working on an addition to the Joliet Rocket that will test the market for something that is more of an "enhanced" experience that's one up on open-vestibules. It should be second best to riding in the tool car. Keep your September open...
Sounds great. I will be there!
Joliet was awesome with the open vestibules at 60 mph. It had been too long since I was able to experience a trip like that.
I agree , there were few "hardcore" railfans on those trips. No doubt, you must get the general public on board to have a chance to make the trips successful. I sure wish more railfans would realize that and part with some funds, even if they don't ride.
nathansixchime posted:We're working on an addition to the Joliet Rocket that will test the market for something that is more of an "enhanced" experience that's one up on open-vestibules. It should be second best to riding in the tool car. Keep your September open...
That does sound like fun. Here's hoping the schedule allows it.
