Re: (erielack) Steamtown 10th Anniversary

[Charles_Walsh_@_Berlex.com]

Tom,

There must be some serious railfans at CP.  I know I'm preaching to the
choir here, but what's sad is that although NPS professes to reach out to
the masses for education, by restricting themselves to basically a static
museum they are discouraging many would-be visitors who would want to ride
train first and maybe see the museum second.  The vast majority of visitors
are ambivalent--at best--about Steamtown's static museum.  In other words,
NPS has it a##-backwards.  If NPS REALLY wants to teach the general public
about real railroading--not this dinky stuff that most museums call an
"excusion" (15 mph on questionable trackage)--take visitors out on the
mainline and show what steam can really do.  When Steamtown ran to
Nicholson nearly every ride was sold out.  I wonder why?

Chuck



                                                                                                                                          
                      "Tom Beckett"                                                                                                       
                      <tabeckett_@_stny.rr.                                                                                                 
                      com>                To:     <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>                                                            
                      Sent by:            cc:                                                                                             
                      erielack-owner_@_list Subject:                                                                                        
                      s.elhts.org                 Re: (erielack) Steamtown 10th Anniversary                                               
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          
                      06/30/2005 11:45 PM                                                                                                 
                      Please respond to                                                                                                   
                      "Tom Beckett"                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                          



Considering that the CP ex DLW line is much busier now than when they ran
the excursions years ago, it was a most generous offer on CP's part. I rode

that train a couple of times in the early 90s, and it was quite a trip.
Just
think: you get a tunnel of significant length, a ride over the world's
largest steel reinforced concrete structure(and an engineering landmark),
with a stunning view to boot, and also over Martins Creek Viaduct, which is

a sizable bridge in its own right, and on a high speed main line. The
opportunity to teach the public about the importance and significance of
these engineering accomplishments while they experience them first hand is
unparalleled. I realize Steamtown has their problems, some of which are
political and unrelated to operating trains other than making such a thing
a
challenge, but I think they were nuts to pass on that invitation. I will
miss the chance to get another trip on the Cutoff.

Tom B
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Charles_Walsh_@_Berlex.com>
To: "Ken Clark" <portlandturn_@_yahoo.com>
Cc: <erielack_@_lists.railfan.net>; <erielack-owner@lists.elhts.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2005 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: (erielack) Steamtown 10th Anniversary


>
> Ken,
>
> I'll agree about it being sad, but I'm not convinced that NPS doesn't
like
> it that way.  When they had the minor derailment at Water Gap two years
> ago, it seemed as though it was the last straw for them.  But even before
> that, they didn't really seem to know what to do with an operational
> railroad and I think they really want a static museum instead...and for
> all
> intents and purposes it looks like they're going to get their wish.  One
> additional note of condemnation...as noted in TRAINS last month, CP Rail
> has said it was OK for Steamtown to run over Nicholson Viaduct, but
> Steamtown has not taken CP up on the offer.  How many operating railroads
> can you name that would KILL to run a train over that bridge as a part of
> their regular excursion, not to mention on the Nicholson Cut-Off?  Of
> course, when Steamtown DID run over Nicholson it experienced record
> patronage.  Which only adds to my suspicion that NPS isn't the least bit
> interested in running the trains.  Or they're just a bunch of idiots...or
> both.
>
> Chuck



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