November 27, 2020 05:57PM
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Registered: 8 years ago
Posts: 74
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Watching from a distance, trying to gather all the facts about the two railroads over the years. The differences and similarities of both. All I can give is my views and opinions on the matter and nothing that may be of any real help to either railroad since I'm sure both of them watch their options and bank accounts quite closely.
On the subject of oil-fired steam, C&TS should definitely look into it. Although, I wouldn't go as far as saying they should start converting a bunch of locomotives in their current fleet. It may be much more beneficial to restore another steamer and convert it to oil upon restoration. Something the size of a C-19 Class first, to use as a test bed. If the conversion is seen as successful, that locomotive can enter regular service and conversions of a couple of the bigger engines should be pursued. Start small and work your way up. That way you know the limitations for each class of loco based on the fuel they run. But if we're being serious, it shouldn't matter what fuel is in it if you're doing it right. Just give it a chance, but don't go and convert everything.
Diesels? Sure, why not? It's not like they don't already have some. However, if they are going to pull the full-size trains, as somebody mentioned, they will need bigger power. The other White Pass Alcos seem the logical choice. I like the idea of them getting 113 and 114. The one concern I have is clearances. The DL535s are 9' wide and pretty tall. Does that conform to the steam engines C&TS already runs like the K36s and K37s? I'm guessing they do, since the D&S would have the same issues. I say get them now while they can. As long as C&TS still runs a majority steam, they should be okay. After all, people still ride the White Pass. People will continue to ride the D&S. The C&TS will survive having a couple oil burners and some diesels.
We can keep speculating on what actually caused those fires. If I'm being honest, I think it's a crock that the train has been going through there for 140 years and just one day starts a huge fire. Wildfires have been going on for years and the last couple of decades they've been trying to pin almost all of the blame on the D&S. Some pretty extensive CSI work! When I went to Colorado a couple of years ago, it was obvious the state has a big problem. Lots of vagrants all over the place. Mix them into any environment and you have trouble. They like to toss their trash (and other things) everywhere. Cigarette butts and blunts included. Look at California. Same story.
But now there's the question if the railroad can be shut down altogether. Even if they have oil burners and diesels, could they still be suspected of starting a fire? The easy answer is "yes". You can start a fire with a train just by applying the brakes and having sparks fly from the wheels into some dry brush. It actually has happened, including here in Michigan, where a train crew reported seeing smoke next to the tracks while waiting on a red signal. However, again, there's the need for evidence to prove as much that any one train caused a fire incident. Or the train from a certain railroad if more than one is in the area. Pinpointing where the fire started is a big deal.
Those are my thoughts on the matter.
-Nick D.
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Tenderpaw |
November 26, 2020 09:20PM |
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Will Gant |
November 26, 2020 09:58PM |
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alcofan |
November 27, 2020 09:34AM |
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Chris Webster |
November 27, 2020 10:51AM |
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kcsivils |
November 27, 2020 10:58AM |
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Dougwood1954 |
November 28, 2020 01:50AM |
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dapenguin |
November 29, 2020 03:08AM |
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AZ Railfan |
November 27, 2020 03:08PM |
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bcp |
November 27, 2020 03:48PM |
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Will Gant |
November 27, 2020 05:18PM |
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bcp |
November 27, 2020 05:50PM |
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drgw0579 |
November 27, 2020 07:08AM |
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nickgully |
November 27, 2020 07:36AM |
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MD Ramsey |
November 27, 2020 03:08PM |
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Will Gant |
November 27, 2020 05:20PM |
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Russo Loco |
November 27, 2020 07:11PM |
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michael |
November 27, 2020 08:35AM |
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Greg Scholl |
November 27, 2020 12:13PM |
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Joe Weigman |
November 27, 2020 11:55AM |
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12bridge |
November 27, 2020 01:16PM |
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usmc1401 |
November 27, 2020 01:43PM |
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Ron Keagle |
November 27, 2020 03:12PM |
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Ron Keagle |
November 29, 2020 08:18AM |
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Kevin Cook |
November 29, 2020 11:33AM |
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Josh McNeal |
November 30, 2020 12:10PM |
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Will Gant |
November 30, 2020 01:14PM |
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Scott Gibbs |
November 30, 2020 04:01PM |
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Will Gant |
November 30, 2020 07:39PM |
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michael |
November 27, 2020 05:57PM |
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declergn |
November 27, 2020 05:57PM |
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Chiloquinruss |
November 27, 2020 07:14PM |
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Tom Smith |
November 28, 2020 10:57AM |
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Jimr260 |
November 28, 2020 03:43PM |
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redrob |
November 28, 2020 04:37PM |
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Hoss |
November 28, 2020 04:38PM |
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Kelly Anderson |
November 28, 2020 11:54AM |
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Tenderpaw |
November 28, 2020 12:39PM |
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Samart |
November 28, 2020 01:00PM |
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kcsivils |
November 28, 2020 04:11PM |
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Tenderpaw |
November 28, 2020 05:40PM |
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redrob |
November 28, 2020 06:23PM |
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Kelly Anderson |
November 28, 2020 07:11PM |
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Josh McNeal |
November 30, 2020 12:18PM |
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Hoss |
November 28, 2020 04:45PM |
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RichB |
November 29, 2020 07:10AM |
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Samart |
November 29, 2020 07:16AM |
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Greg Scholl |
November 29, 2020 08:50AM |
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Steve Forney |
November 29, 2020 01:21PM |
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Earl |
November 28, 2020 09:16PM |
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Joe Weigman |
November 29, 2020 11:30AM |
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drgw0579 |
November 30, 2020 05:45PM |
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Chris Walker |
November 30, 2020 07:54PM |
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michael |
November 30, 2020 05:51PM |
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michael |
November 30, 2020 05:54PM |
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Mark Valerius |
December 01, 2020 12:19PM |
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Greg Scholl |
December 01, 2020 02:01PM |
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Will Gant |
December 01, 2020 02:33PM |
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Russo Loco |
December 01, 2020 08:42PM |
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JoeK |
December 01, 2020 09:29PM |
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Will Gant |
December 01, 2020 09:57PM |
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Samart |
December 02, 2020 07:52AM |
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redrob |
December 02, 2020 08:38AM |
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JoeK |
December 02, 2020 07:23PM |
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Greg Scholl |
December 02, 2020 07:25AM |
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Samart |
December 02, 2020 07:53AM |
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alcofan |
December 02, 2020 08:45AM |
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Greg Scholl |
December 02, 2020 08:53AM |
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Glenn Butcher |
December 02, 2020 08:53AM |
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heatermason |
December 02, 2020 01:16PM |
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Ed Horan |
December 02, 2020 02:58PM |
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Jimr260 |
December 02, 2020 04:27PM |
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heatermason |
December 02, 2020 06:06PM |
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T A Hunter |
December 02, 2020 09:42AM |
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Greg Scholl |
December 02, 2020 10:11AM |
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BrockD&RGW488 |
December 02, 2020 11:14AM |
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bcp |
December 02, 2020 11:19AM |
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BrockD&RGW488 |
December 02, 2020 11:21AM |
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Kelly Anderson |
December 02, 2020 11:57AM |
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JoeK |
December 02, 2020 07:44PM |
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Johnson Barr |
December 02, 2020 01:18PM |
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JoeK |
December 02, 2020 08:07PM |
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Johnson Barr |
December 03, 2020 12:05PM |
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hank |
December 03, 2020 06:02PM |
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Johnson Barr |
December 09, 2020 04:33PM |
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michael |
December 03, 2020 06:07PM |
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Ron Keagle |
December 03, 2020 06:52PM |
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Tenderpaw |
December 04, 2020 08:17AM |
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dave2-8-0 |
December 04, 2020 08:25AM |
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Ron Keagle |
December 04, 2020 10:30AM |
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Olaf Rasmussen |
December 04, 2020 09:33AM |
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Johnson Barr |
December 09, 2020 04:47PM |
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Kelly Anderson |
December 04, 2020 09:39AM |