Re: Diesels

(*Sigh*) Diesels on the Loop.......yep, that'll bring 'em in droves! Promises of people that have proven to be untrustworty are worth exactly squat!!
Okay, rant over. Now it's time for a serious look at this debacle they're planning on foisting off on us!
Let's assume that they are only going to use the one diesel at the start of the season and will hopefully have a second one up and running sometime during the season. Next, let's assume that this diesel IS a 44 ton unit with 4 axles and is totally refurbished.
Now, let's take at face value the reports that there will be SIX gondolas available at the start of the season. In other words let's take the CHS and Railstar at their word and assume that everything will happen just as they say it will......................
Uh huh! Yeah......well, good luck because something isn't adding up!!! My major concern is not for historical accuracy or whether I get to run behind an actual C&S steamer on the Loop. I'm not a diesel fan but I can see where some might ride behind one.....especially if they've never ridden behind a Shay! However, my father-in-law was coming back from vacation and wanted to ride the Loop but unfortunately the only thing running that day was a diesel. He was VERY disappointed (even though everything else was fine!) and told me that he wouldn't ride it again behind a diesel! The CHS had better understand that THIS attitude is not an isolated one! It's steam that draws 'em in!!!
Still, that's not my greatest concern. What IS is what I'm hearing about what the CHS and Railstar are planning to do as "stop-gap" measures to keep something (anything!) going so they can say that they were right all along! The ONE THING that I'm concerned about most is SAFETY and that's the one thing that seems to be getting ignored in the rush to put a train...ANY train on the Loop for 2005!!!
I will not ride the Loop in 2005. Even if they miraculously have 74/30 up and running I wouldn't ride behind it because I am not convinced that safety is the primary concern for the CHS and Railstar at this point. The cavalier attitude that representatives of the CHS have so far demonstrated toward safety issues (such as boiler tests!) leave me no other conclusion!