Having been a long-time reader here, I've seen several discussions about the chasers of special trains vs. the paying passengers on those trains & the railroads that run them, and I've been pondering ways to bridge the gaps between their different interests. Although this line of thought usually revolves around the C&TS, it could be applied to most any railroad where people like us chase trains.
As I understand it, some of the high points include:
The interest for the chasers is to get to good vantage points. This is mostly for photography, video, or just to enjoy watching the train go by (I especially enjoy the last one).
The interest for the passengers is to get to good vantage points during run-bys for the same reasons the chasers want good vantage points. The passengers also want the experience of riding and the ability to get to vantage points not easily accessible via alternate means of transit.
The interests of the railroad revolve around building & maintaining interest in the railroad, as well as making some money by running the event.
At times, I have sensed some friction between passengers (who buy tickets) and chasers (who often do not). Are there ways to better incorporate the chasers into the special event experience?
My experience last Fall riding the Goose at the end of September on the C&TS was my 1st experience with a special event on the C&TS, and I had a great time. I got to ride some historic equipment not normally available and the trip included several pre-planned stops for run-bys along the route. The time I spent on the trip was most enjoyable. The other passengers were railfans and the conversation was delightful. There were also a few chasers we could see periodically.
Aside from enjoying the company, I was impressed by how well planned the trip was. The stops for run-bys were well selected so we were able to take good photos and video. Some of the areas where we stopped may have even been prepared in advance by trimming or trampling some taller grass where most of us ended up standing. The lunch stop at Osier was, of course, the perfect meal at the perfect time. There are a lot of other positive things about my experience I am leaving out, but it was clear that a lot of planning went into the production of the event, and it really made it worthwhile.
Could a pre-planned chaser event be run in conjunction with a special train? I think so.
A chaser event, for which tickets could be sold, would require a vehicle (or vehicles) that could carry groups of chasers to different pre-determined locations along the line from which to view the train. Locations could be scouted in advance to take into account foliage growth, viewing angles, and general conditions at the time. This advance scouting and transportation could be great for chasers with little experience in the area who are less familiar with good locations, foliage growth, and the logistics of getting from one vantage point to another. More experienced chasers may prefer to do their own thing. From the chasers' perspective, I would appreciate having fewer vehicles on the road, fewer drivers on the road who are unfamiliar with the area and may be distracted, and the opportunity for a picnic lunch that i don't have to pack. Basically, a chaser package would mean I wouldn't have to deal with nearly as much logistical hassle, just show up and go. I wouldn't have the variety of locations an independent chaser would have, but I'd have confidence in the quality of the vantage points and experience. As for variety, I could see several different chaser ticket packages being offered for a train, each with different stops. This way, a chaser could chase similar trains multiple times, and stop at different vantage points on each trip. Chase vehicles could be as large as a bus, or as small as a van. Depending on the number of chasers interested, it may be possible to have more than one vehicle.
This is just something I've been pondering for awhile. Could railroads benefit from providing an organized chasers' component of a special trip? Would enough chasers benefit (and pay for) a pre-planned chase tailored to the special train to make it worthwhile, or is this all an exercise in futility? I'm curious to know what others think. I don't live near any narrow gauge, so this is an exercise in armchair railroading. It has no bearing on any plans or activities that I know of.
Dave
