Gilbert B Norman wrote:John_Perkowski wrote: ↑Fri Nov 12, 2021 8:27 pm
If Amtrak wants to store 200 cars, then they need to lease or buy covered storage trackage in California or Arizona, where there will be less deterioration due to wet and cold weather.
Colonel, why is it then that CRAF aircraft can "snooze under the stars" without hangars. If they can be adequately secured, why would stored indefinitely retired Amtrak equipment be any different?
Point of order... CRAF aircraft are literally commandeered (with crews) from scheduled service. Airlines had to cancel revenue flights when CRAF was activated to shuttle refugees from Afghanistan two months ago.
Airplanes CAN be stored in the desert and return to service fairly easily, as are tanks and other military equipment at NG armories and Army storage depots around the country. All they have for security is a good deal of concertina wire and a remote location tends to deter most vandalism.
I think the bigger challenge to hanging on to cars "just in case" is optics. If they are good enough for surge service, then there was no real sense of urgency to replace them.
Get 'em off the books quickly or risk having some of the existing orders and options canceled when there's a new Speaker of the House.
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