"Good Morning America" visit leads to assistance for Arcade & Attica Railroad

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Great story that was part of the “Good Morning America” train from this past week.

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/441146.html

Chris Mincemoyer

2

This young man has been in the news for several years now - he really busts his butt to make the event happen.

Kudos both to him and to the Attica & Arcade for working with him. It’ll be interesting to see how the access project turns out.

3

Are there no rules that require trains to be handicap accessible? What does it take to make an historic railroad coach accessible? How will Extreme Home Makeover solve this problem?

4

However they do it, I am sure it will be interesting.

I found that young man to be quite inspiring. What a kid… there needs to be more young people like him. I hope he never, ever loses his interest, or desire, or whatever drives him.

5

Depends on how old the cars are. In the case of many tourist operations using antique passenger equipment, they are not required to make any handicap modifications under the current handicap laws. I’ve seen quite a few operations with this dilemma, and they plainly state in their ads/tickets that the cars are not handicap accessible.

6

Why are antique railroad cars exempt from the laws that require accessibility?

7

Then they would not be antique!

8

Do you suppose that the laws are attempting to get access for places that handicap people need to go as opposed to places they might just want to go?

9

Are the A&A cars antiques?

10

I believe the A&A cars are antiques. I seem to recall seeing a baggage/coach combine in one shot during the story - it’s possible they may be able to modify it internally to accept several wheelchairs without altering the exterior or the essence of the interior of the car.

There are lifts available for use on the platform. I’ve certainly cranked ours enough times (and will willingly do it many more).

11

I had on occasion with another crew member manually lifted passenger and wheelchair together from curb height platform onto trolleys at Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing Trolley.

12

I agree wholeheartly ! Keep it up JT !

13

The same holds true for historic buildings, when the modifications needed to make it “Handicap Accessable” would alter the function or appearance of the historic place.