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Re: McCloud #18 on the Virginia & Truckee
Author: LivingSteam
Date: 09-01-2010 - 21:06
Re: FRSL #8, it's more about politics than mechanics as to whether it will ever run on the "V&T." As long as the existing "management" of FRSL is in charge, the memory of the legal fight over exaggerated damage to #8 and the repair settlement means the Gray's V&T is unlikely to use it again. Like I said, unless there is a management change, but then if there was I'd guess #8 would return to its legally prescribed home, Plumas County.
The Tyson-Allen plan was to get #8 running with the Harriman birdcages (coaches) that were stored at Portola. Word is that Timber Heritage is finally shipping those out after buying them last year. So Tyson's dream appears to be dead for now, as they won't let him run his own coach on the line either.
Regarding #29, at first it was thought the front trucks were damaged but it wasn't so bad after all. The real damage was a cracked tender pocket, and although it's unlikely it seemed to be cast iron and needed some special welding. If the tender is back on, perhaps it's fixed.
Regardless, #18 will remain the preferred engine. The Commission/CCCVP is now selling three-coach trains, and the Carson City #103 coach should be in full revenue service this weekend. So, on the mechanical side, #29 can't (can't hardly) pull three coaches up the hill, and the Grays likely don't want to abuse #29 that way if they can avoid it.
#18 is much more capable, having about 50% more tractive power, right? And again, it's more politics and legalities than mechanics. The Grays lease #18 from the Commission at $500 per day with limits on liability, while they would have to bear the full cost of wear/tear/damage/depreciation to #29. So for those reasons McCloud (McCleod to the Nevada Appeal) #18 is the engine of choice.
The CCCVP is also now offering a Fall Colors train ride from Dump Road Depot (Eastgate Siding) down to the end of tracks at the head of the Carson River Canyon. Now, I could be all wet after all about FRSL #8. Word was earlier this year that Tyson was trying to get #8 to run down in the canyon, but it was never brought up at any meetings. Chairman Millard was given expanded (or vastly reduced if you know the whole story) powers to make decisions in between meetings, so anything is possible. When I was in Gold Hill last week it didn't look like #8 was going out soon.
So the upshot is I don't know yet what equipment is making the Fall Colors runs. They should be very popular, both from the novelty of being new and the much more acceptable 45 minute run time. While many people have ridden the long round-trip train this year (almost 50% of what they projected), the trains I've been on get old once you get down past the Road and Highway Builders property and see the racetrack, storage lot, junkyards a second time. It's a great trip for true-blue railfans but a long day for the average tourist with kids. 10am to 4:30 is just a bit too long.
One last point, originally in the 1994 planning document, it was envisioned that the entire trip would take 1.5 hours from Drako Way, down into and through the canyon, through Mound House, up the hill through American Flat, Gold Hill and to Virginia City.
As it is, the 65% length from Dump Road Depot to Virginia City is taking up to 1.5 hours. I wonder how long the full run will take once they get another $30 million to finish the project? Will the average tourist want to ride 2.5 hours each way, plus spend three hours in Virginia City without a car?
Probably in the long run the bulk of the business will come from bus tours where they ride uphill and rejoin their bus after a one-way trip.
OK, that's about 1% of what there is to say about V&T Re-con-struction.
The Tyson-Allen plan was to get #8 running with the Harriman birdcages (coaches) that were stored at Portola. Word is that Timber Heritage is finally shipping those out after buying them last year. So Tyson's dream appears to be dead for now, as they won't let him run his own coach on the line either.
Regarding #29, at first it was thought the front trucks were damaged but it wasn't so bad after all. The real damage was a cracked tender pocket, and although it's unlikely it seemed to be cast iron and needed some special welding. If the tender is back on, perhaps it's fixed.
Regardless, #18 will remain the preferred engine. The Commission/CCCVP is now selling three-coach trains, and the Carson City #103 coach should be in full revenue service this weekend. So, on the mechanical side, #29 can't (can't hardly) pull three coaches up the hill, and the Grays likely don't want to abuse #29 that way if they can avoid it.
#18 is much more capable, having about 50% more tractive power, right? And again, it's more politics and legalities than mechanics. The Grays lease #18 from the Commission at $500 per day with limits on liability, while they would have to bear the full cost of wear/tear/damage/depreciation to #29. So for those reasons McCloud (McCleod to the Nevada Appeal) #18 is the engine of choice.
The CCCVP is also now offering a Fall Colors train ride from Dump Road Depot (Eastgate Siding) down to the end of tracks at the head of the Carson River Canyon. Now, I could be all wet after all about FRSL #8. Word was earlier this year that Tyson was trying to get #8 to run down in the canyon, but it was never brought up at any meetings. Chairman Millard was given expanded (or vastly reduced if you know the whole story) powers to make decisions in between meetings, so anything is possible. When I was in Gold Hill last week it didn't look like #8 was going out soon.
So the upshot is I don't know yet what equipment is making the Fall Colors runs. They should be very popular, both from the novelty of being new and the much more acceptable 45 minute run time. While many people have ridden the long round-trip train this year (almost 50% of what they projected), the trains I've been on get old once you get down past the Road and Highway Builders property and see the racetrack, storage lot, junkyards a second time. It's a great trip for true-blue railfans but a long day for the average tourist with kids. 10am to 4:30 is just a bit too long.
One last point, originally in the 1994 planning document, it was envisioned that the entire trip would take 1.5 hours from Drako Way, down into and through the canyon, through Mound House, up the hill through American Flat, Gold Hill and to Virginia City.
As it is, the 65% length from Dump Road Depot to Virginia City is taking up to 1.5 hours. I wonder how long the full run will take once they get another $30 million to finish the project? Will the average tourist want to ride 2.5 hours each way, plus spend three hours in Virginia City without a car?
Probably in the long run the bulk of the business will come from bus tours where they ride uphill and rejoin their bus after a one-way trip.
OK, that's about 1% of what there is to say about V&T Re-con-struction.
