Railroad Forums 

  • Rail Parade

  • General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.
General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.

Moderators: mtuandrew, gprimr1

 #1130493  by acelaphillies
 
This is just a totally hypothetical idea, but has anyone ever thought of having locomotives in parades (4th of July, Memorial Day, etc.)?

The perfect place would be somewhere where street running is done and the trains could run right down Main Street. Imagine a fourth of July parade right now: all of the floats, police cars, fire trucks; then imagine NS 6920 "Honoring Our Veterans" pulls down the middle of the street, ditch lights flashing and horns blaring. You have to admit it would be pretty cool. [/foamer moment]

Anyway, it will probably never happen because of the very specific circumstances required to pull it off, but it would be neat.
 #1130536  by morris&essex4ever
 
It would be fitting if the parade was on National Train Day.
 #1132636  by mtuandrew
 
Unless you plan to repave on July 5, probably not a good idea :wink: (Though, CN did deliberately drive a locomotive down a street in Canada once, so it could serve as a mobile generator during a severe power outage.)

As for towns with in-street rails, the company insurers would have a field day with driving a 150 ton machine down Main Street, surrounded by hundreds of distracted, young, elderly, or inebriated visitors, while being filmed by the TV news. A stationary display might be a better choice, and something you could actually get a railroad to do.
 #1132792  by lpetrich
 
I've found Street running - Wikipedia for which cities and towns have commuter/intercity tracks in their streets.

LIke the South Shore Line in Michigan City, IN, and Amtrak/UP/BNSF in Jack London Square in Oakland, CA.