Steamtown Fade to Static?

diningcartim · **Joined:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:34 pm **Posts:** 197

6-18003 wrote:

To add a wrinkle to this discussion, I believe the D-L is prevented by contract from hosting their own excursions. However, since Steamtown has now opted to sit on the sidelines, could that exclusion be in danger of a legal challenge?

Not true. I worked with the DL several times to operate trips on the line with their power and equipment owned by the group I was associated with or other visiting equipment. We boarded the trips from various non-Steamtown locations. In one case we originated a trip at the Delaware Water Gap to Scranton with the option of getting off at the University of Scranton and going to the Italian Festival via a chartered Martz Bus or continuing on to Steamtown. We had to pay Steamtown the admission fee to the park for each passenger who chose to get off there. As I recall 80% went to the Italian Festival and 20% went to Steamtown.

mcgrath618 · **Joined:** Mon Feb 15, 2021 6:54 pm **Posts:** 230

Scranton Yard wrote:

mcgrath618 wrote:

Scranton Yard wrote:

An aggressive and coordinated effort by those in the preservation community with the technical knowledge and museum management skill to evaluate what is in Scranton and to professionally present alternative futures for many of the wonderful artifacts there to the bureaucrats at STEA, in Philly, and in DC is a low probability move but still offers better hope for the responsible stewardship of the artifacts than the current situation.

Hey, you keep my city out of this! I can assure you that we have nothing to do with the issues at Steamtown.

STEA is under the auspices of the Regional Office in Philly.

This is news to me. I would’ve thought they’d be in Harrisburg.

Where can I send my angry letters?

Scranton Yard · **Joined:** Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:08 am **Posts:** 731

6-18003 wrote:

Someone mentioned the Big Boy, was that work contracted out or performed in-house? Keep in mind that they only had to repaint her because the park failed to properly spec the RFP the last time it was painted, a job that failed almost immediately (at no fault of the contractor).

My recollection is that the Park Service employee responsible for this first botched paint job was severely disciplined for their failure by being promoted to Supervisor of the shops.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

Diningcartim, might be for steam only? I’d have to look at a copy of the contract, which I do not have and could not find with a precursory search of the web. This may have also been removed from subsequent contracts. Anyone know for sure?

Connie4800 · **Joined:** Mon May 28, 2018 11:28 pm **Posts:** 90

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

Yes, Connie. Unlike many tourist railroads, the NPS has chosen to take Covid pretty seriously. That’s likely why there are no train rides at Steamtown.

I do think Steamtown should focus on having a working roundhouse with multiple steam locomotives in operation. They could always have visiting locomotives for now! (611, 261, 765, etc.)

I think we can look across the pond for this one - the UK's NRM has a fleet of working steamers that they run on-property in normal times, but also lend and lease out to tourist lines. I think that could be a good model and a source of income - Get 3 or so of the big ones operational and send them out to lines that can run them.

Like, they'd get to see an engine they don't see normally, and STEA would get income.

This is just My Opinion but i think Steamtown should like, fully lean into being our de-facto NRM.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1796

Connie4800 wrote:

Crescent-Zephyr wrote:

Yes, Connie. Unlike many tourist railroads, the NPS has chosen to take Covid pretty seriously. That’s likely why there are no train rides at Steamtown.

I do think Steamtown should focus on having a working roundhouse with multiple steam locomotives in operation. They could always have visiting locomotives for now! (611, 261, 765, etc.)

I think we can look across the pond for this one - the UK's NRM has a fleet of working steamers that they run on-property in normal times, but also lend and lease out to tourist lines. I think that could be a good model and a source of income - Get 3 or so of the big ones operational and send them out to lines that can run them.

Like, they'd get to see an engine they don't see normally, and STEA would get income.

This is just My Opinion but i think Steamtown should like, fully lean into being our de-facto NRM.

I was thinking the opposite. Steamtown needs to bring in visiting locomotives. That way they would have some operating mainline engines, and the said mainline engines would get some new visitors and publicity through NPS.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

They should focus on running the museum. Utilize small, working steam on site. Use a private contractor to run excursions and allow them to lease shop space. Take an honest look at what languishing equipment can be saved and donate/sell off the rest.

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2604

*Errata Redacted*

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1796

superheater wrote:

@Crescent Zephyr

"Yes, Connie. Unlike many tourist railroads, the NPS has chosen to take Covid pretty seriously. That’s likely why there are no train rides at Steamtown."

Except that wasn't the reason given to the affected.

Stop being a fanboy.

Yes it is. From the Steamtown homepage -

“Status of 2021 Train Rides
The return of the “Scranton Limited” and Nay Aug Limited train rides has been temporarily suspended due to COVID. We thank you for your patience.”

j6677 · **Joined:** Mon Sep 03, 2018 9:02 am **Posts:** 26

A bit testy today, aren’t we?

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2604

"Steamtown needs to bring in visiting locomotives. "

There was a three year effort to bring CNJ 113 to Scranton.

We even worked up and idea for "CNJ Days", which would allow for an event that would allow Steamtown to approach the DL to lease the CNJ 1554 to operate compare it with 113, show The Big Little Railroad in the theater, invite speakers to deliver other programs, etc.

In the end, the NPS, despite reminders, didn't even have the courtesy to inform Mr. Kimmel of a decision to end the effort. I have his permission to discuss this publicly, in its entirety, if I choose to do so.

That was the best and perhaps only chance to get a visiting steam locomotive capable of excursion service to Scranton. Instead, it created what is now called a "reputational issue"

Emmo213 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 25, 2021 4:44 pm

superheater wrote:

That statement has been there all year. The last update was August 16.

Crews were notified that 2021 operations were cancelled the other day.

So now, in late September 2021, they're changing the message from operations are suspended for the rest of the year to cancelled for the rest of the year? And that's the source of all this outrage?

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2604

"And that's the source of all this outrage?"

"Son, sit down"

-Bernard C O'Brien

superheater · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 11:54 pm **Posts:** 2604

"A bit testy today, aren’t we?"

What makes you think it's just today?

I'm not good with children.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1796

Question to moderators... is name calling allowed?

I’ve been told I live in an alternate universe, and been called a fanboy and a fool in this thread. I don’t appreciate that.