evankamp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The fact that there is no such thing as a historic
> fleet and that they very rarely use steam or work
> on future restorations on steam or historic
> equipment (which isn’t like they couldn’t just
> get one of the many box cars sitting around
> Skagway rotting away). If they cared about
> historic significance they would have put in some
> interest for 195 to ensure it stays in good
> condition. I am amazed by what they do and
> honestly just know not to expect it from them.
> They were very much a modern narrow gauge railroad
> when they started tourist trips. While they were
> found they had diesels and such meanwhile the Rio
> Grande lines were still using steam which allowed
> them to stay more “historic”. I still find
> White Pass to be my favorite ride and railroad in
> general and just thing you should not hold
> different railroads to the same standards. The
> same mindset could be said to the C&T about why
> they arnt about to pump out 400,000 passengers a
> year and be valued and sold at a crazy amount of
> money.
Keep in mind that, their diesels -are- the historic fleet, and that unlike their Lower 48 brethren, they were operating into the 1980s. Photo freights of ore cars aren't really an option to a place so remote, and, the 195 no longer belongs to them. I was told, at one point, that while it was given to Skagway, the city wanted a pretty penny to return it, which is why it sits marooned where it is. If you're not aware, the WP removed the rails leading to it... It won't pull the hill like the 73, anyway, so the money spent restoring it would never pay back.
You might be judging a bit too harshly, just my opinion.
~
Doug Frederick, Chama, New Mexico.
"Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?"
Slimrail Fan is 6.5 time zones, Pacific to Atlantic.
[
picasaweb.google.com]
