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Re: If you could rebuild extinct steam what would you pick?
Author: Eric Gonzales
Date: 07-28-2019 - 18:15
Synonymouse,
Thank you for a break from the seeming constant complaints about BART and by extension, public transit. I'm actually enjoying this thread. For my list, despite currently living in the Midwest, my apologies as for the most part, my west coast/southwest upbringing shows through...
5) Streamlined NYC 20th Century Limited J3a Hudson. I agree its a shame that none of these, whether streamlined or not, were saved.
4) Santa Fe 3460 (Blue Goose)
3) A Western Pacific 2-8-8-2
2) A Southern Pacific AC-9. Yes its just a backwards Cab Forward, but something about the skyline casing that those had
1) SP 4294. Bring a Cab Forward back to life. This takes the top spot for me because its such an unusual design, and one that is truly unique to just 1 railroad.
Bonus Round... I know some people here might try and tar and feather me for this, but here goes. This is all dreaming anyway...
Considering there have been more $1,000,000,000+ lotto payouts in the last few years, if one did hit that kind of money, restore the original SP grade over Altamont, and make an offer to UP for their ex WP Altamont alignment. The track would need to be maintained to at least the current standards for overhead freight and ACE service to continue. But this would enable a possible continuous routing from Niles to Tracy, and the overhead freight and passenger service would be a source of income. It would allow a working museum of sorts where the SP and WP units at least wouldn't look out of place.
For that operation to work, considering the original SP ROW was built over through Pleasanton and Livermore, it would still need to tie to the existing UP/WP main at Hearst, and then split off again at using a current industrial spur that already diverges off the main along Contractor's Place, adjacent to Medina St in Livermore. Following the track/abandoned grade on Google Earth, it does line up with the SP alignment at the bridge where the WP crossed over the SP. Now, tying it back together on the valley side might be the problematic part. It appears the UP/WP line enters a wye with presumably the former SP West Valley line, which connects back. I'm not sure who operates that now, but either an outright purchase for the needed segment could be made, or a trackage rights agreement could be reached. Unlikely, but again, hey, this is all a dream.
Thank you for a break from the seeming constant complaints about BART and by extension, public transit. I'm actually enjoying this thread. For my list, despite currently living in the Midwest, my apologies as for the most part, my west coast/southwest upbringing shows through...
5) Streamlined NYC 20th Century Limited J3a Hudson. I agree its a shame that none of these, whether streamlined or not, were saved.
4) Santa Fe 3460 (Blue Goose)
3) A Western Pacific 2-8-8-2
2) A Southern Pacific AC-9. Yes its just a backwards Cab Forward, but something about the skyline casing that those had
1) SP 4294. Bring a Cab Forward back to life. This takes the top spot for me because its such an unusual design, and one that is truly unique to just 1 railroad.
Bonus Round... I know some people here might try and tar and feather me for this, but here goes. This is all dreaming anyway...
Considering there have been more $1,000,000,000+ lotto payouts in the last few years, if one did hit that kind of money, restore the original SP grade over Altamont, and make an offer to UP for their ex WP Altamont alignment. The track would need to be maintained to at least the current standards for overhead freight and ACE service to continue. But this would enable a possible continuous routing from Niles to Tracy, and the overhead freight and passenger service would be a source of income. It would allow a working museum of sorts where the SP and WP units at least wouldn't look out of place.
For that operation to work, considering the original SP ROW was built over through Pleasanton and Livermore, it would still need to tie to the existing UP/WP main at Hearst, and then split off again at using a current industrial spur that already diverges off the main along Contractor's Place, adjacent to Medina St in Livermore. Following the track/abandoned grade on Google Earth, it does line up with the SP alignment at the bridge where the WP crossed over the SP. Now, tying it back together on the valley side might be the problematic part. It appears the UP/WP line enters a wye with presumably the former SP West Valley line, which connects back. I'm not sure who operates that now, but either an outright purchase for the needed segment could be made, or a trackage rights agreement could be reached. Unlikely, but again, hey, this is all a dream.
