Railroaded wrote:When chasing short lines trains, sometimes, depending on 10 different factors, we might zip by you before you know we're through, or other times, you might have to wait an hour for us to get something done in between the crossings. It's not much like a class one. We may have to stop somewhere to fix something, or get something, you never know.
Good point. I really need to get a scanner so I can know what's going on. I think I got there ahead of you because the speed limit for most of the drive between Blasdell and Hamburg is 45-55 mph. I blew the chase through my own impatience.
Railroaded wrote: Also, as far as to why we would go grab only one boxcar, again, it's because we are NOT a class one and customer service is much more important to our lively hood. Think of it as the difference between a car dealership repair shop, and a local garage mechanic. One couldn't care less about you and the other one desperately needs your business and will do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer. We operate in two totally seperate realities.
Having grown up next to a shortline (the original B&H mainline), seeing a run for a single boxcar doesn't faze me. I think it was a surprise for the other poster in that thread, who may not be accustomed to seeing an operation like yours. Although I am not 100% certain, he may be used to seeing shortlines like the modern LA&L or FGLK, where consists of 10-40 cars are the norm. However, shortlines are like most other small businesses- each one is unique. I don't expect any of them to act like another RR. I will let that poster know what you have said- I hope it will help him understand the nature of your operation.
BTW, your analogy hits home more than you realize, but my recent dealings with getting my Saturn repaired are beyond the scope of this thread.
