Cadiz plans to operate a tourist line with some operation of a Santa Fe 4-8-4 under an agreement already signed. I know I am reading too much into this but in light of Cadiz being a green energy company...could this be an opportunity for some Wardale etc experimentation on a Porta theme? Idle rumination on my part but it could prove to be a partnering opportunity.

Details were posted this morning here:

http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2013/09/New%20venture%20to%20operate%20steam%20trains%20in%20Mojave%20Desert.aspx

Seeing as I am not a subscriber I cant see what the post is.

They will run steam through 85 miles of desert, on a regular schedule.

The passengers will ride in sealed air conditioned coaches.

Steam will contribute to this experience how?

Oh, and by the way, looking forward to crewing that locomotive?

There are several other news articles about this story, such as a detailed one in the following link in The Street.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12042700/1/artist-rendering-of-cadiz-southeastern-railway-en-route-to-cadiz-california-graphic-business-wire.html

While riding in the dome car on the 4449/844 doubleheader, I realized just how much of the experience you miss when you can only head muffled sound.

I've always wondered why nobody has ever "piped in" the sound to the car. Simply put up some exterior mikes, suitably shielded from the wind, and play that sound over the car's sound system. With today's technology, it should be easy enough to do, and could even be blended in as ambient sound along with music or narration.

Note that I'm not talking about miking the engine or any of that. Simply capture the sounds you'd hear from outside the car, the same experience you'd get with an open window.

On a related note:

Regular excursions with a 4-8-4? Aside from the Royal Hudson, I can't think of any long run excursion trains with a large engine that lasted more than a couple years. So I'd say "Ride it while you can!" before the money runs out.

Speaking of which, what's the longest current excursion? Off the cuff I'm going to guess either the D&SNG or C&TS wins that one?

The 4-8-4 in question is Santa Fe 3751. I'm sure it'll be around after this thing goes under, if it comes to that. They have not stated what their home power is yet

Cumbres and Toltec most likely wins, but if we're going to get technical, Steamtown is the longest standard gauge run (Scranton to DWG is 50+ miles one way).

Agreed... My "Ride it while you can" comment was about the operation, not the 4-8-4. It's extremely expensive to do that sort of thing on a regular basis. Granted 4449 and 700 do regular Christmas Runs, but that's only a few weekends per year and they're short runs.

Bob -

I agree about the sound of the engine. The answer is a baggage car with open doors behind the tender. During my steam fantrip days many moons ago, most of my trip was spent riding in the baggage car. I rarely was in my seat. In those days, the doors had custom built wood partitions, with screening as I recall, that were only built up to about waist high so fans could lean out. Maybe they would need to be higher these days. My guess is that these trains would not be aimed at the rail enthusiast, but the casual traveler. Still, a baggage car so described would enable the fan to get his or her fill of stack talk and the car would likely not be crowded.

Les

the Arkansas and Missouri railroad runs excursions from Springdale to Van Buren, AR and back. Road miles is 62 one way, so that would be 124 round trip. Of course rail miles will be different, but the rail roughly follows the same general path as the road.

Yes it's Diesel, no one said it had to be a STEAM excursion.

The issue being you're in the Mojave desert. Air conditioning is not optional. That heat kills.

If those guys can handle being in the cab through the desert I can handle being in an open window coach. :-)

[quote="Bruce Duensing"]Cadiz plans to operate a tourist line with some operation of a Santa Fe 4-8-4 under an agreement already signed. I know I am reading too much into this but in light of Cadiz being a green energy company...could this be an opportunity for some Wardale etc experimentation on a Porta theme? Idle rumination on my part but it could prove to be a partnering opportunity.


I would think that would be a good way to get shot, approaching the 3751 wanting to try some of those off the wall experiments on it. Leave well enough alone.

C&TS is 64 miles but only one way trips in a day. D&S is a 90 mile round trip. SL&RG I believe is within a few miles of what the GCRy used to do and currently holds down the longest regular steam run if I'm not mistaken. It's in the 120 mile range I believe.

ATSF 3751 was upgraded by Santa Fe around 1940, so it's nearly "state of the art" for US steam locomotives. Regarding the plan to use it for excursions between Parker and Cadiz: Parker is a sizable town, with lodging, food, and gas stations; Cadiz is a junction with the former Santa Fe Needles Division and the nearest settlement is Amboy, where, at last report, the US 66 landmark motel was "open under new optimist". I don't think the Las Vegas "bookies" are quoting odds on this proposal, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it. Finding enough people with money to spend on train trips through the desert and the willingness to drive from LA or Phoenix to get there in numbers sufficient to make regular operation feasible seems rather dubious. Someone will probably say, "But nobody ever expected UP 4014 to leave LA County Fairgrounds", but that's an "apples vs. oranges" comparison.