Re: The Loop???

Well, the rumor is true that someone at the Loop has bought another diesel. I have heard that it was Mark Graybill’s company but I can not confirm that. The new diesel is the old #60 that has been sitting, out of service behind the shop at Roaring Camp.

I don’t know how well the #60 would do on the loop since it only has two traction motors but it will be much easier on the tracks then the #12, two axle diesel they have now. However, it will take a bunch of work to get that engine going again. Maybe as much as the #1203 Porter did but it will not be able to pull a 7 car train up the hill like the Porter can. I wonder if the Sumpter Valley guys want to try rebuilding this one?

As for steam, I hear the #12 is completed or very near completion now. The plan is to run her in 2010 pulling one train and the two axle diesel pulling another. Of course, they will charge more for the steam train. It will be interesting to see how many people will pay the extra money.

From a “business” point of view, I wonder if going all diesel is not a smart move. Last year the Loop carried 86,000 passengers using only a diesel. Those are fairly good numbers and I’m beginning to doubt if steam will attract enough extra passengers to pay for the extra expense. Since us steam fans have "sworn off" the loop in recent years, we may have also sentenced the Loop to be a Diesel railway caring 80-90,000 passengers that could not care less about what is pulling them.

I guess this is what they mean by "be careful what you wish for".