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Hi there, welcome to The Depot. How may I help you? I can offer you information on railroad adventures I've been on or know a lot about I have rated them on whether or not you should stop by using spikes (
): 5 is "Definitely", 1 is "Where's our next stop?" I can also give you information about the railroad I am a part of, the Chippewa Northwestern. Lastly, if you wish to travel long distances, may I make a reccommendation? Travel by train! It's relaxing and it makes up for half the fun of the trip. I can give you information if you're interested. Oh, the bathrooms are at the second door, down the hall, to the left.
The Chippewa Northwestern Railway is a one-inch scale railroad located in Goehner, Nebraska. We run live steam locomotives, many of which burn coal as their fuel. We are located on the grounds of the Seward County Historical Society's museum and have an 1850-foot mainline with over 200 feet in sidings. The group is not a club, but rather a privately-owned operation. All of the work that goes toward maintaining the railroad is done by volunteers, like myself, who enjoy the hobby of live steam railroading. Visit the website for more info on this area of the Chippewa.
The other area of the Chippewa Northwestern Railway Company is dedicated to surveying, building, rebuilding, and operating other railroads. Our latest project was the two-foot gauge railroad on the grounds of the former zoo in Grand Island, Nebraska. We rebuilt the entire railroad and are now in control of operations until the end of 2003.
Amtrak is the only nation-wide passenger rail service in the United States. They operate trains that serve 46 of the 50 states (those excluded are: Hawaii, Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming) at over 500 stations along 22,000 miles of railroad track. Most of the track is owned by freight railroads and is leased for use by Amtrak. On average, 65,000 people travel on Amtrak each day.
Amtrak's trains are mostly named after the passenger trains that were originally operated by each railroad. Then in the 1960's, passenger service became a burden to the individual railroads. In 1971, Congress formed Amtrak to relieve the railroads of passenger service. The longest train route that Amtrak operates was an actual route in pre-Amtrak days, but it didn't go as far as Amtrak now takes it. Originally, the Sunset Limited ran from New Orleans to Los Angeles. Now, Amtrak runs its version of the Sunset Limited a distance of 2,768 miles from Orlando to Los Angeles. The shortest route Amtrak runs was also an original: the Hiawatha, running a distance of 86 miles from Chicago to Milwaukee.
Amtrak has had budget problems for the past several years and the government has threatened to cut its funding. Unfortunately, the U.S., although perhaps the most powerful country in the world, does not compare at all in the means of passenger rail to other world powers like England, France, Germany, and Japan. I strongly urge you to email President Bush and contact your senators/representatives to tell them Amtrak NEEDS to have the same, if not more funding than it currently receives.
UPDATE: Amtrak has made out a 5-year plan to improve their system to make it more attractive and enjoyable to, in the end, boost ridership. Check it out by clicking here.
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Railroad Adventures
- This railroad is a line 11 miles in length located in Cass, WV. Cass is about 60 miles north of White Sulphur Springs, WV which is on I-64. The railroad is owned and operated by the State of West Virginia. The railroad's main focus is on mountain logging and the lumber boom that occurred in much of the Appalachian region. All of the engines at Cass are logging engines (e.g. Shay, Climax, Heisler). When I went there in 2001, they were only operating Shays. At that time, they were hoping to get their Climax in operating condition soon. The railroad also rents out houses in Cass that were originally the homes of the lumber mill and railroad workers. They are a very comfortable and nostalgic way to spend the night.
- The Cumbres & Toltec is a narrow gauge railroad that follows the Colorado/New Mexico border. A non-profit organization is in charge of its operations. The line is 64 miles in length and goes through some breathtaking scenery. You can get on the train at at either end of the line at Antonito, CO or Chama, NM. I have not visited the C&T yet, but I have talked to several people who have.
- The Durango & Silverton railroad is also a narrow gauge railroad. It is located in the southwestern corner of Colorado and is based out of Durango, CO. During the winter months, trains only run up 26 of the 45-mile line. When there is no threat of snow, the trains run from Durango all the way to Silverton and back. At one time, it was connected to what is now the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. The line was a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. I rode on the D&S in the beginning of April 2000 when it was snowing. There were only a few inches in Durango, but where we turned around on the mountain, two feet of snow covered the ground.
- The Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad is located in Fremont, Nebraska. The 16-mile line is operated by a non-profit group. An old switch engine is used to pull a few 1920's-era passenger cars across the Nebraska plains. I have yet to visit the railroad.
- The Great Smoky Mountains Railway is located in southwestern North Carolina. The main terminus of the 54-mile line is Dillsboro, NC, but you can also board the train in Bryson City, NC. They use both diesel and steam locomotives to operate the trains. When I went in 2000, I took advantage of their "Rail & Raft" combo. You ride the train up the mountain, then whitewater raft back down.
Located in Spencer, North Carolina, the North Carolina Transportation Museum is comprised of what were once the main repair shops for the Southern Railway. Located midway between Washington, DC and Atlanta, Georgia, the shops were built to accommodate all maintenance needs of the Southern. The shops became known as Spencer Shops and the town that came about because of them carried the same name. The name was given in commemoration of the Southern's first president, Samuel Spencer. They use a diesel to power a small passenger train that runs around the shops. You can ride in the cab if you talk to the station agent. I went there in 2000.
- Tennessee Valley Railroad is located just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. They have a three-mile line on which they operate several trains every day using both diesel and steam locomotives. If you ask in the station and are willing to pay a little extra, you can ride in the cab of the steam locomotive. After you've ridden the train, you can browse at the engines and cars that they have on display in their museum area. I visited the museum and rode the train in June 2002. The main station and museum is right next to an active Norfolk Southern mainline. Several trains went by during the three hours I was there.
Chippewa Northwestern Railway Company
Amtrak