CN 3254 passenger run to strasburg?
- Thread starter dpfan1
- Start date
But he'll never stop asking until we explain why. 
Let's start from the beginning in that Steamtown has about 70 miles of track they can already run excursions on. The 3254 lacks several modern features required for mainline travel, such as rollar bearings (exposed bearings on the tender trucks, required by all Class 1s), cab signaling (required on all Amtrak routes), and a modern brake system. This can be exempted on a regional railroad, but not on a Class 1, and especially not on Amtrak. Insurance for the trip is expensive. The 3254 is not equipped for Amtrak trains, making insurance impossible to buy on a trip. There is no reason to. Neither Steamtown nor Strasburg has shown any interest. There is also no direct route between Scranton and Strasburg. Most importantly, there is no point in running on a line that Amtrak runs on everyday with an engine no one needs to see away from Scranton for two organizations that are doing fine the way they are today.
dpfan1, I suggest you get a Skype account (it's free!) and directly message me with these questions. I would much rather see that than you once again clogging the forum like your personal message board
Let's start from the beginning in that Steamtown has about 70 miles of track they can already run excursions on. The 3254 lacks several modern features required for mainline travel, such as rollar bearings (exposed bearings on the tender trucks, required by all Class 1s), cab signaling (required on all Amtrak routes), and a modern brake system. This can be exempted on a regional railroad, but not on a Class 1, and especially not on Amtrak. Insurance for the trip is expensive. The 3254 is not equipped for Amtrak trains, making insurance impossible to buy on a trip. There is no reason to. Neither Steamtown nor Strasburg has shown any interest. There is also no direct route between Scranton and Strasburg. Most importantly, there is no point in running on a line that Amtrak runs on everyday with an engine no one needs to see away from Scranton for two organizations that are doing fine the way they are today.
dpfan1, I suggest you get a Skype account (it's free!) and directly message me with these questions. I would much rather see that than you once again clogging the forum like your personal message board
I will state it again: running with Amtrak requires the steam engine be up to certain standards. These include rollar bearings, cab signaling, and the ability to run at track speed (60mph).
The 3254 has none of those. It would cost too much to get to work. Then you have to lease Amtrak certified passenger cars to go on the train, as none of Steamtown's coaches are so equipped (for example, the coach trucks must be taken apart for a full rebuild. Regular cost: $25,000).
Then there's the insurance. The cost of running of three railroads would require the insurance bought would be huge. Let's say NS requires an insurance of $5 million dollars. Yes, this is to account for what happens if something goes horribly wrong, like a derailment. Now, to get that deposit, that would cost $150,000. And that's just a rough guess.
Running with Amtrak is cheaper, but that requires Amtrak certification for the engine and coaches, which again drives up the cost. And again, Steamtown and Strasburg do not have any reason to do this
simulatortrain
jointed freaking rails
Let me know when you find the DL&W existing today.
Yes. Now can we add this to the threads that get closed? Seriously. All you just did was repeat exactly what joneau and others said before.
Again, this is no diferent from before. Enough the the dang kamillion postings. If you have more info, and no one has responded to the original post, you are alowed to go back and edit it.
Ex: That picture and the quoted post could have been in 1 post.
Really? I didnt know that. facepalm
WE ALL KNOW THAT! (And its spelled GAUGE.)
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what,I thought the mods closed this,no duh,DP,those ebt mikes were designed for narrow gauge operation,now like I said,the 3254 stays where it belongs,and to answer your dumb question,no this standard gauge mikado is not a USRA class,and don't get any ideas of this and other steam engines going to strasburg,why,how about because they have enough steam locos in their collection to work on!:n:
Then how was Steamtown's train able to run on CP to north of Nicholson with steam and the old friction bearing coaches, and the special diesel run to Sunbury last June? CP is a class 1. Did they make an exception and allow Steamtown to run occasional excursions over their tracks? I still miss the days in the early-mid-late 1980's when several tourist railroads in PA ran long distance steam excursions on Conrail and other class 1 railroads. Like Rail Tours, Inc. (Jim Thorpe), Blue Mountain and Reading (Hamburg and Temple), and Strasburg. Yes, Rail Tours ran a special trip from Jim Thorpe to Bethlehem and Reading in 1983 with steam, and special runs from Reading to Bethlehem, Pottsville, West Falls near Philly then the train returned to Jim Thorpe at the end of the celebration which was Reading's anniversary or something. I have the entire Allentown Morning Call newspaper from September 28, 1983 which contains the article. Front page was the Dorney Park fire. Strasburg ran special trips with the two PRR locomotives (now retired) in 1985 and 1986 to Harrisburg over Conrail and Amtrak, and Philly over Amtrak. Yes, steam did run on Amtrak in the past. Strasburg used their fleet of steel coaches for the trips which they later sold off.
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I know how it would work! They could take CP to Sunbury, then down to Harrisburg, and finally over Amtrak to Leaman Place, then Strasburg. They might have to use the Reading F's on the Amtrak portion since they have cab signals to run on Amtrak but they could use steam for some of the trip then put the F's in front. CP has been more open to steam than other class 1's and NS seems to be a bit more open to steam since they're restarting a limited steam program in 2011. However, the 3254 might have to be left behind at Harrisburg or Sunbury if NS or Amtrak won't allow it. Then there's the issue of the old friction bearing coaches.
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