Re: Re: Hight Fuel, High Fertilizer? We have to oppose Rail Mergers

Posted by Allen on February 14, 2001 at 20:13:20 from (207.44.55.34):

In Reply to: Re: Hight Fuel, High Fertilizer? We have to oppose Rail Mergers posted by JD70Jim on February 14, 2001 at 07:04:29:

There IS a solution that will prevent abandonment: When you hear that your local branch is due to be abandoned, you'll simply need to get community and trackside business support, form a corporation to buy the line, and operate it as a shortline...

Of course then you'd have to bid and pay more for the line than a scrapper would. You'll also need to buy/lease an old Alco or GP from one of the rail dealers, hire some guys to run it and a couple or three more to change out ties (including all their wages pension and benefits). The old parent road will probably want you to pay them a per diem for use of any of their cars, so better figure on having to buy a few of your own, at least enough to allow you to become a pool member. You'll also need a LARGE liability policy, While your at it, it would be good to have a cash reserve or line of credit available to to cover any unscheduled breakdowns, or new and unfunded FRA or NTSB mandates.

Oh, and figure on replacing every 3rd tie or so in the first few years just to keep the track useable ... BTW: while your at it, it probably wouldn't hurt to pray for enough revenue to mebbe break even. (Unless you're located near a major population center, don't count on giving rides to tourists as a source of income, either.)

Time is rather of the essense...better get started BEFORE they turn the ROW into a bike trail... If you think the above is a bleak and expensive proposition, the going rate to re-lay rail where it has been torn up is somewhere around $1M/mile.

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