future 611 trips ??

[NW Mailing List]

Well it all comes down to money. Can you run a trip and make money? If not it's over. To run a trip under Amtrak with a diesel is already cost prohibitive for the most part . Add in the 
611 cost makes it almost impossible to sell tickets at a price people will pay. A lot of expenses upgrading 611 to Amtrak standards
If you run off of a Amtrak route theres more money for track inspections which are mandatory. (Which I herd NS has already said no to) Lot of hurdles to over come .What 
Wick could do for Amtraks pricing is anyone's guess. Will VMT be willing to spend more for less return? I could see the operation of 611 becoming more like the 261 or 4449 with just a few trips a year and relying on other money to keep it going. But I doubt that VMT has the ability to make that happen. Maybe spin 611 off to its own independent group would be a good start. Just saying

Larry Evans

"There's the sun, there's the moon, there's the air we breathe, and
there's the Rolling Stones"  Keith Richards

> On Jun 1, 2017, at 9:42 AM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> Folks:
> Don't forget that the Manassas to Front Royal runs were complete sell outs.
> There is gold (money) in them thar hills of Prince William County and Northern Va....
> Eric
> 
> 
>> On 2017-06-01 07:29, NW Mailing List wrote:
>> http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Norfolk-Southern-is-open-to-Roanoke-area-611-Excursions-in-2018-425564914.html
>> [4]
>> Sounds like NS is willing to do more Roanoke area trips. But as said
>> earlier 611 needs to change up on where she goes to help bring ticket
>> sales back. 
>> My vote is a long days round trip Roanoke-Riverton and return. Or
>> perhaps some sort of an Overnight loop? Roanoke to Manassas via
>> Riverton day 1. Then Manassas to Roanoke via the Southern on day 2?
>> Perhaps the VMT should approach NS about going out on the pokey some?
>> Perhaps Bluefield to Iaeger? Or Williamson to Devon?
>> 73,
>> Nate
>> On Jun 1, 2017 05:45, "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>> wrote:
>>> I dont post much as I am more of a pupil here but I believe we have
>>> a limited window of opportunity to get big steam back in action.  I
>>> live in Cleveland and at at the Midwest Railway Preservation Society
>>> they have two steam locomotives under restoration at the old B&O
>>> roundhouse.
>>> My point is...the number of people that remember working steam is
>>> dwindling; the number of skilled mechanics who can do that type of
>>> work is dwindling; therefore it is my fear that as each year goes
>>> bye, the people willing to donate money or estate gifts goes BYE. 
>>> Now is the time to pull out all the stops and establish self
>>> sustainable preservation trusts that ensure their operation for the
>>> next 100 years.  The 1218 only has a small window of opportunity to
>>> be back under steam, otherwise she will be relegated to Madame
>>> Tussauds wax museum status for ever.
>>> Operation stirs interest...interest stirs participation and
>>> donations, thus longevity.
>>> Case in point....how many kids want a lionel train for Christmas any
>>> more?   Just my $0.02 worth...
>>> Chris Bunsey
>>> Cleveland Ohio 
>>> Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® 6.
>>> -------- Original message --------
>>> From: NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
>>> Date: 5/31/17 1:39 PM (GMT-05:00)
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