Conway Scenic Railroad (CSRX) discussion thread

[Jonathan]

As for the employees, they are just doing what the owners tell them and you cannot knock them for that.

Agree totally with this portion of the post. Imagine what kind of reputation the current employees would have if the GM was someone different. I know for a fact that there are people who mean well that work there, that want the railroad to be successful, that are doing their part to preserve these old trains, the only problem is that some of them, I presume, are being held back from doing certain things that could only benefit the future of this railroad.

[NHV 669]

It's easy to be a critic when you aren't involved. I notice at least one poster here who is always critical but never willing to work or volunteer for the outfit. I've done some volunteering as life permits and been extremely grateful for the experience, but also the fact the railroad simply exists. Those who wish to be critical can only do so because people have continually over the years kept the rails polished.

My advice is to support the railroad, the railroaders, and other associated folks by simply going and paying for a train ride. Otherwise if you aren't doing that then go find something else to obsess over.

Being involved with the operation is entirely irrelevant to offering criticism, especially when major safety violations are involved, and pointing them out gets you fired, or threats of local law enforcement being called on you.

As mentioned here before, I filmed a conductor last year throwing a flag at a moving unit, and when his lazy toss landed on the ground in front of said unit and accompanying train, he decides to bend over in front of the moving consist to grab the flag. Guess who got shadowed by the local police <10 miles later along the chase?

There's literally zero reason to conflate that with good things done by good people in the last 50 years at North Conway.

This thread is for discussion of the operations based at North Conway; we will continue to do exactly that, whether it hurts certain folks' feelings or not. They are certainly free to scroll on like mature adults if they don't like what's being said... a relatively simple concept.

[CSRR573]

Agreed, and this is why retired railroaders often work part-time or seasonally at tourist railroads and museum railroads. This gives the outward appearance that young people aren't interested in working there, but it's just that: an appearance. The old heads can afford to work part time for low wages (or volunteer for free) because their homes are paid off, they've already got benefits, pensions, savings, etc.

Thats been my plan all along. Once I get my 30 with Amtrak, Im out and doing that exact thing.

[MaineRailfan]

Off topic, but does anyone know what is going on with the 200 ton Brownhoist crane at Waterville? I thought the 470 club owned it, but CSX auctioned it off for $3,500 last week.

[NHV 669]

BM 3365? They posted that it was donated to them back in December. Hmm...

[MaineRailfan]

https://www.ironplanet.com/for-sale/Rai ... e/11749371

[Jonathan]

Just to cool down from the heated discussions that have been happening about Conway recently, I'm going to post a link to a video of railfans weekend from the year 1988. It includes probably the fastest approach to the North Conway yard with 7470 that i've seen starting at 19:45, a steam doubleheader runby up the hill with 108 and 7470 and a rare steam tripleheader runby with 108, 7470, and 501. People say that Rudy was engineer on 7470 that day, who would be the engineer of 108 then? Courtney?

Here's the video:

[MEC407]

Now that's how you put on a show! Plenty of classic diesel action too!

[Who]

BM 3365? They posted that it was donated to them back in December. Hmm...

I know there were issues with the weight of the crane and getting it down to Hazen. Some of the bridges/trestles needed to be shored up to handle the weight but the state was refusing to do the require work because they don't have the funds. I know the Conway Scenic offered to cover the price, but I have no idea if the state accepted that offer. CSX might have had a deadline for it to be removed off their property. If they just turned around and sold it the 470 Club might have missed that deadline to get it out.

[ericofmaine]

Off topic, but does anyone know what is going on with the 200 ton Brownhoist crane at Waterville? I thought the 470 club owned it, but CSX auctioned it off for $3,500 last week.

We thought we did, too and this caught us just as off guard as anyone. We're working with our contact at CSX but nothing has been figured out yet. We have a plan in place to get it to Conway but no work has been started yet and the NHCR sale to VRS threw a wrench in the works.

Eric

[b&m 1566]

Eric, was there documentation with the donation, or were you just working of a gentleman's agreement?

[NHN503]

... NHCR sale to VRS threw a wrench in the works...

Let me be very clear, we did not throw a wrench in the works on this. I'm not going to go further here in a public forum, but you are more than welcome to contact me to discuss.

[ericofmaine]

Apologies, bad choice of words on my part. Unknowns, at least on the part of the board, would have been a better choice of words.

Eric

[highrail]

"That's why 216 rolled down to the bottom of the hill completely unmanned ..."
That is not quite accurate...I was there and witnessed it. July 29, 2019.
216 was not running. They were trying to move the unit around the yard with the large loader with a chain attached to the engine and the loader. Guy on the loader and one on the ground. 216 broke loose from the chain and started to roll onto the main with no air and no brakes set. The guy on the ground chased after 216, got on the engine and started cranking the handbrake. 7470 was at the bottom of the hill, spotted the 216, stopped, and started a reverse move to try and avoid a crash. 216 stopped about 100' from the 7470

[Jonathan]

So, what you're saying is that the 216 incident was not Dave's fault? It was the loader crews fault. Dave had nothing to do with 216, the guys on the truck messed up. Although, Dave might have been on the 7470 that day, either as the engineer or the 3rd guy in the cab..