dandtsrr2 Wrote:
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> While converting the entire White Pass roster to
> steam makes most of those on this board salivate
> it does make sense that it would be impractical.
> I do have two issues that bother me about the
> White Pass operation:
>
> 1) Why are they so stinkin' expensive? $125 for
> the trip to the Summit and back, $300 to go to
> Carcross and return by bus. What is the deal and
> that is with diesels? Fuel costs in Alaska are
> not much higher than in the lower 48 from what I
> saw when I was there but maybe I do not have all
> of the pieces to the puzzle. Don't get me wrong I
> enjoyed the ride and will do it again (next time
> to Carcross and not just the Summit) but you can
> ride in style (parlor car) for about the same
> price as going just to the Summit and back. I
> guess it is simple economics as they are charging
> what the market will bear as they have huge
> ridership numbers every year.
>
> 2) Why do they only run the steam on the weekends?
> This drove me nuts that I could not ride behind
> steam because they didn't even offer it on the
> weekday when I had come into port. We passed the
> steamers at the shops. It would seem that they
> could run the steam as an option and charge a
> little more with proper advertising and
> salesmanship on the part of the cruise lines. Out
> of the 10,000 people that come into port on an
> average day you would think that there would be
> enough folks interested in riding behind steam to
> fill up a train if it was offered as a premium
> service. That I would pay more for. My wife
> detests diesels and would take steam any day even
> with the higher costs.
>
> I realize that the two items listed above seem to
> be contradictory as I am asking for cheaper prices
> but am willing to pay more for steam but I am more
> willing to part with the cash for the steam any
> day.
>
> As I said above I enjoyed the trip and it is a
> well run operation. I will ride the train again
> when I get back to Alaska, but what is the deal?
>
> Daniel
Yes, they need to get one more steam engine in operation and have at least one train with steam everyday.
