Re: GGRM in Windsor
Author: Del Monte Burns
Date: 07-20-2019 - 00:17
The people who run GGRM should have tried to get a signed agreement with SMART outlining what if any type of operation would be allowed on their rails before they agreed to move to Schellville.
They probably would have been told to forget about it.
A properly run tourist train like Napa Valley Wine train could bring extra money into communities like Santa Rosa and Healdsburg from visitors who patronize shops and restaurants but....unfortunately SMART would have been inundated with protests by NIMBY neighbors along the right of way who would not want noisy steam engines and old diesel trains rumbling along the tracks if a deal with GGRM was on the SMART Boards agenda.
Remember all the legal battles NVR had to wage before winning the right to operate? It took several years and a lot of money from the original owners to win that fight.
I dpn't think GGRM has that kind of money
Having steam and vintage diesel trains would be nice but it would bring out inconsiderate foamers who would trespass along the right of way and drive like maniacs along parallel roads to get pictures and videos.
SMART would not want to spend extra money on security for crowd control.
They would not want antique trains interfering with regular operations.
They have enough problems with people getting killed on the tracks
SMART is a publicly financed agency that relies on taxpayer support not a tourist train only operation like Niles Canyon, OERM, Rio Vista and others that can find a right of way for their exclusive use that is in an urban area with a large population base.