posted
I heard there was going to be a private car train, on the S line this Sunday, departing from Savannah, and I was wondering what time it was departing there, and if you can what time you expect it to be in my neck of the woods, just north of columbia. Thanks
Contrary to views expressed in another thread about renovating the La Castenada or living trackside in Chama, NM;
I now believe that if I had the means, I would own and operate my own private car....preferably one of those really nice Budd half-domes.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
I know me too. I have been looking at some railcars, but they are super expensive.
palmland Member # 4344
posted
Amtrak 92, In answer to your question, I've heard that the AAPRCO (Private Car Owners) convention will operate a chartered train on Sunday. It will, of course have most of the private cars from the convention and will operate from Savannah Sunday morning. Supposed to be in Columbia around 9:30 am operating north on the S line.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
Thank you so much, you have been such a help.
RRCHINA Member # 1514
posted
Ownership of a PV (Private Varnish)is just the start of the cost. Those seen on the train that created this thread must be continually kept to Amtrak standards if they are to be operated on Amtrak trains, or operated as a special train by Amtrak as is this one.
Additionally there is a per mile cost when operated, a charge for each switching move, each serviceing with dumping the tank and water or ice put aboard. Then most PV's have a crew to prepare the food, handle the housekeeping and handle all of the mundane things necessary to comply with Amtraks operating rules.
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
It would be the equivalent of owning a yacht.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
posted
I think it is a safe assumption that my Father (1909-2001), as owner of five boats (sail and power) I know of over the years and ranging in size between 20 and 50ft, would hold to this axiom:
A boat is a hole in the water into which man pours money. ...
The analogy with this topic should be evident to all.
Even a charity is best advised to think twice before accepting one as a donation:
However, I have a problem with the donation of a boat to a charity; marine surveys, sea trials, and whatever notwithstanding.
The conventional advice, or at least the advice I always gave is if Fair Market Value of the property you desire to donate is less than your basis, sell it yourself and donate the proceeds. Should the property been held for business or investment purposes, then the donor can recognize a Business or Capital loss, as the respective case may be. If FMV is greater than basis, donate the property and be done with it. Your charitable deduction is FMV and the "built in gain' is forgiven.
Ever since "donate your car today" became a hot deduction and the abuse started rolling in like floodwater, i.e. some clunker that was towed away suddenly becomes a "cherry' on the tax return, the IRS has 'cracked down'. Charities are now required to advise a donor of the sale proceeds of donated property - and that is what a taxpayer will get as a deduction.
RRCHINA Member # 1514
posted
Mr. Norman's analogy holds water, pun intended, but a PV, while expensive, is less so than say a boat as those he describes.
A PV already certified for Amtrak service and with a modernized interior will cost about $.5 to $.8 M. Some have been fancyed up and can be more expensive while some less opulent can be less. And if you choose you may prepare your own meals and take care of the housekeeping.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
There are some cars you can buy that are already certified, and they cost around 135,000, and then if you had the time, you could do the housekeeping and the cooking. Then just charter it out for a little more then what Amtrak charges, total profit.
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
Had I remained single, I would have very possibly attempted to live in a surplus caboose....maybe a pair of them end to end....add a boxcar as a storage unit.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
That would be interesting.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
For you interested in buying a rail car here is the website, I look at
quote:Originally posted by amtrak92: That would be interesting.
Yes....it would have.
It's probably best that I got married so that I could live in a house!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
posted
Speaking of dwellings, I wonder how many railfans have given thought to buying, if any for sale, an abandoned switch tower for a residence?
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
No.....had not considered a switch tower (until now) but I have thought about buying a patch of land adjacent to a DI mainline and erecting the following Trackside home for the 'proud foamer'
Might need to make a couple of modifications to the floorplan......such as adding a bay window on the trackside. I'm not wild about having to enter the bedroom in order to reach the restroom either.
amtrak92 - that Santa Fe observation car which had been modified to a blunt end is a very nice looking car.....the UP Dome car which looks like it's in downtown Orlando is .... uh... vey ghetto!
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
I know, but the Santa Fe car is nice. There are several cars on the site, that are in need of repair, and should be reduced. That would be fun to live in a tower, or a railcar. There are tons of cool things on the site, I just don't have the money, and the places to put them
Regarding Mr. Amtrak 92's immediate posting, Vista Cavern last saw revenue service on ATSF #1 & 2 San Francisco Chief, which put up the Adios drumhead on A-Day. Neither this car nor any of its four fleetmates, were acquired by Amtrak.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
That is interesting, I never looked at the complete history of the cars, but isn't that car nice, specially on the inside
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
I saw it, a CSX freight came thru at 9:30, the special came at 11:33
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
posted
That's why we have a forum.
palmland Member # 4344
posted
The train was impressive, twenty privately owned one of a kind cars. CSX inexplicably put the Columbia-Hamlet freight out in front of it.
It lost at least a half hour in Lugoff, SC where the freight was making a pick up. But that allowed a close inspection of the cars and nice discussion with those on the rear platform of Georgia 300 (Obama's car to the inauguration). It was bringing up the markers.
The chef on the car knew my wife from the days when he worked with her at a private club in Jacksonville. The lady sitting on the rear platform had family from my small town, that was a couple miles north. Small world.
I don't recall ever seeing what I guess you could call a reverse saw by meet. The northbound freight backed his entire train (probably 75 cars) into the siding for the pickup. The Special then cleared the south switch and stopped adjacent to him - with the freight still hanging out on the main at the north switch. After coupling and air, the freight continued to back through the south switch so the special could proceed north.
posted
Lucky, I wish I would have thought of using my location at the Lugoff train station, but I used a place near milepost 352. Lucky. It is unfortunate CSX ran the freight ahead. But that is like CSX policy, run our trains first, others can wait. Well it seems like that specially on the North End Sub
notelvis Member # 3071
posted
What type of freight traffic is CSX running north of Columbia these days? Anything beyond the Columbia-Hamlet local?
palmland Member # 4344
posted
David, actually the Hamlet-Columbia freight is considered a road manifest train No. 463/464. Normally Lugoff is the only stop.
They handle traffic from the Columbia area served by several locals: from Savannah, tri-weekly, from northern Columbia suburbs (wall board, woodchips, lumber, chemicals), and one from the east serving a paper mill and a few smaller industries. Columbia proper also receives a large volume of plastic shipments for an Eastmann Chemical plant, fabricated steel, and scrap.
Outside of that the only activity are two locals based at Lugoff. One does some local switching then goes south to norhteast Columbia and works a woodyard (woodchips for a Charleston paper mill) and a brick yard. The other works the Invista (ex DuPont) plant and north to a couple nearby feed mills. Both 5 days a week.
There is also a fairly regular coal train that comes from Hamlet to a power plant about half way up the line.
In the past two years the entire line has had a tie and surfacing program, so is in reasonably good shape. Still some good old jointed rail on the north end. Amtrak speed is 60 mph.
So bottom line is, north of Lugoff only one regular freight. Capacity is not an issue (although sidings are short). Bring on HSR
amtrak92 Member # 14343
posted
That maintenance was fairly big in my area, it took about 1 week. I didn't know about the coal line, where does it run too. I have a diagram of the track curvature, and grades, plus the speed limit. Amtrak goes 79 in Elgin so places it goes fast. Also I think in Cheraw there is an interchange with the South Carolina Central. I think that is where the local turns at too. The local north of Camden leaves Lugoff in the morning, and the local to Columbia leaves in the late evening. One other place the Columbia local serves is Pontiac Foods. I think CSX is about to get rid of the jointed rail soon. Occasionally 463/464 stop where I live. If it is heading north and stopped look behind the IGA, and if it is south and stopped look to the north side of the Church St. Crossing
posted ![[Smile]](smile.gif)