Re: WP&Y new diesel article
| February 11, 2020 12:58PM |
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The WP&Y is in a unique position for such a delivery as they can be moved to Tacoma or Seattle by truck as they did the rebuilds out of Western Junction WA a few years back, then shipped by boat to Skagway, right onto rails from the ship if they do it right. I can't think of any other narrow gauge railroad where this would be the case.
This line just gets more and more riders (something I don’t think any other narrow gauge line anywhere can claim) so it makes sense that they need new power.
Don't forget that more than a few of their coaches were built in the last few years, though I bet the passengers wouldn’t notice. They can’t maintain the riders they have with the newest power being older than I am.
Also don't forget that train fans make up a very small percentage of their ridership. The last time I was there in 2015, I asked a few employees and they confirmed that among the riders, very few appear to be train fans. I ran my unofficial slogan by one of the employees and she said I'd nailed it when I called the WP&Y, "The best train ride that most train fans never get to see".
Yeah, the shovel noses are neat to watch, but really, since it's not steam up front I'd be fine with whatever it is. And whatever makes it easier for the railroad, I'm fine with that, too. I've ridden behind all the type of power they have except steam so far...
-Lee
Flickr photo set of my On30 layout
This line just gets more and more riders (something I don’t think any other narrow gauge line anywhere can claim) so it makes sense that they need new power.
Don't forget that more than a few of their coaches were built in the last few years, though I bet the passengers wouldn’t notice. They can’t maintain the riders they have with the newest power being older than I am.
Also don't forget that train fans make up a very small percentage of their ridership. The last time I was there in 2015, I asked a few employees and they confirmed that among the riders, very few appear to be train fans. I ran my unofficial slogan by one of the employees and she said I'd nailed it when I called the WP&Y, "The best train ride that most train fans never get to see".
Yeah, the shovel noses are neat to watch, but really, since it's not steam up front I'd be fine with whatever it is. And whatever makes it easier for the railroad, I'm fine with that, too. I've ridden behind all the type of power they have except steam so far...
-Lee
Flickr photo set of my On30 layout
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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