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Re: Santa Cruz – Train to Christmas Town press release
Author: Graham Buxton
Date: 11-01-2012 - 17:38
The whole "Train to Christmas Town" concept is quite interesting. Note that there is a newly published book to go along with this event concept.
My take on it that Iowa Pacific, which operates an number of tourist trains around the country, is trying to build their own "Christmas" train brand name, and avoid licensing fees for "The Polar Express". Lots of intrigue here, as the master licensee for the Polar Express (as a railroad event) is Rail Events, Inc. which is part of Allan Harper's empire.
[www.raileventsinc.com]
Of course, Harper owns Durango & Silverton RR, which not surprisingly has Polar Express trains. But Iowa Pacific is also in Colorado at the San Luis & Rio Grande RR (although I don't think they operate a Christmas train.)
Iowa Pacific recently took over the Texas State RR operation (from Mr Harper), and TSRR has for some time had the Polar Express event ride.
Note that as of September, Iowa Pacific was publically planning on having Polar Express at Santa Cruz this year.
[sccrtc.org]
My bet is that the Santa Cruz "Train to Christmas Town" is a market test for Iowa Pacific. If they can get it to work in Santa Cruz it will eventually push out Polar Express events at other Iowa Pacific operations. Possibly it could even be licensed to independent operators, where they don't compete with Iowa Pacific tourist trains.
My take on it that Iowa Pacific, which operates an number of tourist trains around the country, is trying to build their own "Christmas" train brand name, and avoid licensing fees for "The Polar Express". Lots of intrigue here, as the master licensee for the Polar Express (as a railroad event) is Rail Events, Inc. which is part of Allan Harper's empire.
[www.raileventsinc.com]
Of course, Harper owns Durango & Silverton RR, which not surprisingly has Polar Express trains. But Iowa Pacific is also in Colorado at the San Luis & Rio Grande RR (although I don't think they operate a Christmas train.)
Iowa Pacific recently took over the Texas State RR operation (from Mr Harper), and TSRR has for some time had the Polar Express event ride.
Note that as of September, Iowa Pacific was publically planning on having Polar Express at Santa Cruz this year.
[sccrtc.org]
My bet is that the Santa Cruz "Train to Christmas Town" is a market test for Iowa Pacific. If they can get it to work in Santa Cruz it will eventually push out Polar Express events at other Iowa Pacific operations. Possibly it could even be licensed to independent operators, where they don't compete with Iowa Pacific tourist trains.
