End of the Year -- End of the Line?

[dldance]

East Texas tourist train faces closure Dec. 30

PALESTINE, Texas — Supporters of the Texas State Railroad are seeking emergency funding from the state to try to prevent the East Texas tourist train from closing at the end of the year.

The last run for the train, which ferries tourists between Rusk and Palestine, is set for Dec. 30. But a task force is lobbying the state for $650,000 to keep the train running until the Legislature can vote on long-term operating funds.

[videomaker]

dl,

I heard this on the news this am coming to work…Its sad,I hope the Texas Legislature funds it next year…I think it all has to do with P& W funds going someplace else,the TSRR isnt the only park in Tx,that is suffering from lack of funds…I plan on going to Rusk one w/end in Dec and shooting it one more time…Its beautiful there in the piney woods this time of year…Danny

[Limitedclear]

Hmmm. Let me get this straight, the train loses $1Million annually and they want a private operator to come in, fix the track and equipment and lose $1Million per year PLUS their CAPEX up front… Typical state thinking. Wonder if they’ll get any bids at all… LC

[Murphy_Siding]

"We’re going to jump up and down and yell and scream until we get our way. But more important, we’re going to continue to show that it’s an economically viable project … Officials said it loses about $1 million a year and needs $40 million over the next decade for the care of antique engines, cars and track.

It looks like they can jump up and down and yell all they want. An economically viable project wouldn’t be losing money.

[spokyone]

"We’re going to jump up and down and yell and scream until we get our way. But more important, we’re going to continue to show that it’s an economically viable project … Officials said it loses about $1 million a year and needs $40 million over the next decade for the care of antique engines, cars and track.

It looks like they can jump up and down and yell all they want. An economically viable project wouldn’t be losing money.

Everyone seems to enjoy the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railway. However it is subsidized by NM and CO as well. I would not want to see it disappear.

[dldance]

For the 18 years that I lived in TX, I planned to visit and ride the Texas State RR. I even drove through Palastine once and stopped at the state park - but everything was shut down. A big part of their problem is previously deferred maintenance has caught up with them. Oh well - now I may never get the opportunity. I am not holding my breath on state funding or private operation.

dd

[Murphy_Siding]

"We’re going to jump up and down and yell and scream until we get our way. But more important, we’re going to continue to show that it’s an economically viable project … Officials said it loses about $1 million a year and needs $40 million over the next decade for the care of antique engines, cars and track.

It looks like they can jump up and down and yell all they want. An economically viable project wouldn’t be losing money.

Everyone seems to enjoy the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railway. However it is subsidized be NM and CO as well. I would not want to see it disappear.

I’m not picking on the railroad. It’s this fella’s take on the subject that I find interesting.

[zapp]

Sorry I don’t believe this is going to be a priority on the state legislature or the governor’s agenda. With the problem’s with public school funding and governor Perry’s Central Texas Corridor plan a scenic railroad is going to have a hard time getting any kind of funding via the state.

[videomaker]

dl,

I just heard on the news this am that Lt Gov.Dewhurst and someone else may have found enough $ to keep the TSRR afloat thru the end of the yr.up until the legislature meets again…Also there is a website that is taking signitures to present to the TP&W Dept.in Austin to keep funding it…But like someone else said there are a lot of other issues that have priority over this so I guess its a wait a see game…Danny

[dldance]

dl,

I just heard on the news this am that Lt Gov.Dewhurst and someone else may have found enough $ to keep the TSRR afloat thru the end of the yr.up until the legislature meets again…Also there is a website that is taking signitures to present to the TP&W Dept.in Austin to keep funding it…But like someone else said there are a lot of other issues that have priority over this so I guess its a wait a see game…Danny

my next trip to the area will likely be in the spring - maybe there is a chance.

[videomaker]

dl,

Check out star-telegram.com Look under state and it should be there,you can read the article…Im going this w/end to shoot/ride it…Danny

[kenneo]

Hmmm. Let me get this straight, the train loses $1Million annually and they want a private operator to come in, fix the track and equipment and lose $1Million per year PLUS their CAPEX up front… Typical state thinking. Wonder if they’ll get any bids at all… LC

And some folks on this Forum wonder where Bush gets his thinking that AMTK can turn a profit?

What can I say.

[txhighballer]

The Texas State Railroad has always suffered from difficulties in that they cannot advertise the railroad due to the state’s policies.If they were allowed to advertise,the numbers would come up,plain and simple. when I worked there,it was always a battle to keep funding.this is not a new problem,but it is now very critical.

[Poppa_Zit]

"We’re going to jump up and down and yell and scream until we get our way. But more important, we’re going to continue to show that it’s an economically viable project … Officials said it loses about $1 million a year and needs $40 million over the next decade for the care of antique engines, cars and track.

It looks like they can jump up and down and yell all they want. An economically viable project wouldn’t be losing money.

Then they oughta get the $1 million per annum operating funds and some capital improvement bucks from the tourist-related businesses that the author claims are benefitting from the railroad, yes? That would be in their best interest.

[JSGreen]

Everyone seems to enjoy the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic railway. However it is subsidized by NM and CO as well. I would not want to see it disappear.

And, the scenery on the Colorado/NM border is much more spectacular than East Texas…but they have issues every year, ensuring correct funding etc. I have a suspicion that half the folks that ride the Cumbres and Toltec do it for the scenery, not for the experiance and heritage of Narrow Gauge Steam.

I did the summertime Moonlight run once, and running along the canyon walls, the only lights visible were the stars and the glow from the Headlight and Firebox, was something magical. Ironically, if we hadnt lost an airhose on the way back, we would have been in the station before the moon rose, but the 2 hour delay to fix the airhose gave us the last half hour in the Glow of a full moon…