Re: Hostage situation? Don't like trains, don't ride.

Forgive me if I'm redundant as I haven't read the entire thread. The position on the changing of generations is right on. People don't have the attention span they once did for an all-day/hostage situation steam excursion. I think there was an article in Trains Mag regarding the Strasburg wherein the management indicated that Nostalgia was dead to most Americans and the 45-min trip was the way to go. That said (and with my total amateur speculation as a basis):

Will NS ultimately restore their locomotives (611 & 1218) to steam? Not likely.

Will the NS revive the steam program they once had, a la UP?
Not likely.

Have the lawyers and accountants at NS determined that running lengthy steam trips is a viable and safe means of revenue that will significantly impact the bottom line?
Not likely.

Is John Craft correct in his prediction that these excursions will involve the 630 on trips as he has outlined?
More than likely.

Are we, the foamers that post to this site, hopeful that this will grow into a program that rivals that of the late 1980s and early 1990s?
Yes.

So there you have it. Is a corporation like NS going to alter their business plans to please us? While I hope so (balloon deflating), let's just be happy that another steam locomotive will get some rare mileage.

Murph