Bad News For GSMR

S

smokeygear

C/LTJG - Operations
Due to the recent economic slump and the rapidly increasing gas prices, the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad will discontinue its Dillsboro Excursion and Gourmet Dinner Train indefinately. Here's a link to the press release on their website: http://gsmr.com/press/index.php

I find this truly sad to see as the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is a wonderful operation. Hopefully Congress and the American people will finally have the guts to stand up the radical environmentalists who are destroying this country through their antics and stupid decisions. However there is a bright side as the railroad may restart Dillsboro excursions in 2009 when steam returns. But there are no promises.
 
I doubt that envirnmentalists have as much influence on fuel costs as economic expansion in China and India.
It's a shame that they had to trim back their service, but it costs a lot of money to run a train, and with the fallout from the mortgage collapse, it will be a year or two before people feel rich enough to do as much sightseeing as before. I hope all the local tourist lines can hold on until then.

:cool: Claude
 
That is the price they pay for converting ET&WNC 207 208 sg 2-8-0's to burn oil, but I think when the economy pick's back up so will the service. What sounds cheaper 30$ for a tone of coal or 128$ for a barral of oil? I have riddin' on them steamers plenty of times, and was there when they had painted 208 in the Southern scheme, of corse that is not there number's any more it is more like in 1700s I think. But hopefully service will continue.
Take Care
Dusten
 
Tokkyu40 said:
I doubt that environmentalists have as much influence on fuel costs as economic expansion in China and India.
Click to expand...

I spell checked that for you. Anyway, yes, your very correct. India and China's need for oil is a big part of why prices are so high right now, the other part of it is that rich businessmen seeings oil go up, buy more and more of the oil that they can get their hands on, with the intention of selling it later for a far higher price then they paid.

At least that is my theory. but I will bet my Broadway Limited E7 A-B set that that is a big part of the high price. (no, no one gets it if I am wrong)

Right now we are at a point where short lines, and tourist operations are going to feel the pinch. I believe that Coal burners will see a comeback on tourist lines. D&SNG and C&TS have always had coal burners, they are in a good position since they have always burned coal. Colorado Railroad Museum has 346 now, so there is no need to fire up the three ex GTL oil burners. but also remember, when using Diesel on railroads, they do not have to pay road taxes, so that makes it a bit cheaper

The new Loop uses 12 and 9, but for them it makes no sense to move back because 12 was built as an oil burner, 9 was converted

while it would be nice, I do not think UP would move back to coal anytime soon, though if prices keep going up, burnings oil in 3985 and 844 may become a better idea

We can only guess the future, but I have a feeling that $140 a barrel oil is only the beginning. We are not even past the tip if the iceberg in my opinion
 
While it's always sad when a railroad is forced to cut back due to costs, I never actually found the GSMR to be very amusing. The trip was far from scenic, and the steamer could not be kept in running condition, thus forcing enthusiasts to ride behind one of their diesel locomotives. It was more like an old freight line, complete with dirty trailers, blankets of kudzu, and people hanging their purple panties (in image I'd rather not remember) on the line, that had been packaged up and sold without giving any thought to the actual scenic quality of the railway. But maybe it's changed since I was last there.

Cheerio,
John
 
They won't convert the 722 to oil. That's just stupid to do to a historic engine (especially a Southern). I'm already p/o'd that one Southern consolidation is being converted (H-4 401). Oil burners suck. They don't smell good, the don't look good, and they're are not much better on the environment. If GSMR was smart they would convert the 1702 to coal, because it is cheaper.

PS They (630 & 722) aren't Tweetsie engines anymore. They started as Southern engines, and ended as them too.:D
 
Phew...

I thought you were gonna say that it was going out of business :eek:

G.S.M.R. is the "Illinois Southern" in The Fugitive, correct?
 
Well not to ruin anyone's theory's or thoughts, but recently the Democratic Party OPPOSED drilling for oil in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. Environmentalists are the one's blocking it. They claim that if a pipe were to break or a drill rig were to go down that it would devastate the environment for many years to come. However new technology has made rapid advances in drilling techniques to prevent such things a rarity in the years to come. Oil companies are not to blame as they only control fraction of the global market. Saudi Arabia, OPEC, and Iran are to blame for the high price of gas because they play the market by controling the amount of oil that reaches the market. By putting out less oil, they increase the price as there is only a few other alternatives to their oil. Both Barack Obama and John McCain don't have a clear plan as far as energy issues now and the Republicans are acting like a bunch of deaf donkeys with their legs cut off; they had their chace to make things right and they failed. But at the same time the Democrats aren't any better. It makes me sick to see that government is running this country into the ground. I wonder if my decision to join the Navy was a mistake.
 
Im pretty sure, that one of them at least is one of the ET&WNC's SG 2-8-0 208. If my memory is good, I think that the ET&WNC bought some Southern steam which was either 208 or 207, and then they got sold, and I guess they got back in the southern scheme, but Im not sure any more:o . LOL, take care.
Dusten
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Building the NE Mass Route-page 9
Replies
0
Views
3K
steamboateng
S
Back
Top