Steam & Excursion > BNSF vs. ATSF 3751

The BNSF has refursed to let the 3751 run to Barstow on September 10 and to San Diego in October.  Does mean the end of excursions for the ATSF 3751 in California?  Why is BNSF so anti-steam?

Hard to say they are anti 3751. They handled the move earlier this month, and have been involved with every mainline move they have made for many years. Its all about timing.
 

BNSF is anything but anti-steam. But all steam is considered on a case-by-case basis. To be honest I would have thought that the SBRHS would have had more trouble getting this by Amtrak than BNSF. In any event, has there been an official announcement?

flash34 Wrote:
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> BNSF is anything but anti-steam. But all steam is
> considered on a case-by-case basis. To be honest I
> would have thought that the SBRHS would have had
> more trouble getting this by Amtrak than BNSF. In
> any event, has there been an official
> announcement?

Just posted on their website.

Posted from Android

The websiote referred to is that of the excursion operations
of the  Central Coast Chapter of the NRHS.  Here is the link:

http://goldenstaterails.com/

What to me is quite odd is the timing of this announcement.
I thought that people at a decision-making level for decisions
like this do not work on weekends.

I also expect that the Pacific Railroad Society's Sept. 10 trip
to Barstow might also be cancelled.  The PRS did not evenm
mention the possibility of this September trip in their website
or FaceBook page.

So sorry the Oct. 1 trip will not happen.  The poor 3751 deserves
to get out an run on the main lie more often, and it seems to me --
just as a far-away observer -- that the group really deserves to run
the engine much more.

I do hope the 3751 can pull some kind of excursuion(s) before her
boiler time runs out next year.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/16 22:30 by Margaret_SP_fan.

Just my gut feeling here -- risk management people have taken control.

Both trips are cancelled.  This sad news was just announced tonight
on the  "Santa Fe 3751" FaceBook page, which is the FaceBook page
of the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society: 

"This evening, many of you have heard the news that both of the planned
excursions for this fall have been cancelled. While we are all saddened by
this outcome, we would ask you to stay positive and respectful and keep in
mind that the railroads are dealing with unprecedented changes on many
levels that require considerable focus to manage. We thank them for the
many times when we have been able to operate and we thank you for your
continued support."

(Announcing this on a Sunday night still seems rather odd to me.  Wasn't the
decision made sometime last week -- because people who would be making
such a decision only work Monday-Friday?  I only ask this because I do not
know the answer.)

I hope all is, and will be, well with the BNSF.  And I thank them for allowing
the 3751 to run on the past.

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/16 00:29 by Margaret_SP_fan.

jcaestecker Wrote:
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> Just my gut feeling here -- risk management people
> have taken control.
​Maybe they have been in contact with the CSX lawyers.  As I have stated prior; someone told me sometime back that there is one head attorney at CSX who has convinced their management to not operate any steam of any kind and to also stay away from rail excursions in general.  This attorney has convinced their Board of Directors not to take any chances of having to defend their company in court with liability from some passenger having any kind of accident while riding on their railroad.  The "New River Train" is an exception in that it has operated for at least 30 or more years and is operated as an Amtrak special, and there are some politicians from West Virginia who have influence with CSX.
​John in White Marsh, Maryland

If they are worried about the power crapping out, Amtrak is far more likely to crap out than the 3751. As for possible passenger problems, have them all sign a waver and move on. In the U.K. prior to the recent SPAD incident, steam was run on far busier main lines almost every weekend.

For what it's worth, I happen to know that Amtrak raised their "rates" so high, that it would have been impossible to sell tickets. Thus, the decision was NOT related to BNSF but solely Amtrak.

Well this news just sucks. I hope they have some other possible trips in the works (that become real) before boiler time expires.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/16 06:29 by kurt765.

kurt765 Wrote:
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> Well this news just sucks. I hope they have some
> other possible trips in the works (that become
> real) before boiler time expires.

Not if they have to operate under the Amtrak insurance umbrella.

HotWater Wrote:
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> For what it's worth, I happen to know that Amtrak
> raised their "rates" so high, that it would have
> been impossible to sell tickets. Thus, the
> decision was NOT related to BNSF but solely
> Amtrak.

That may well be the case, however the announcement at the link implies otherwise:

This cancellation was necessary due to the failure to obtain the needed approvals from the host railroads and other logistical reasons.

I understand the group not willing to burn future bridges by using the language posted rather than pointing a finger at one party. But without clarification, it leads to the accusation in the thread title. If Hotwater is correct, blaming the wrong party might poison the water with this major freight RR.

edsaalig Wrote:
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> "The bnsf has refursed to let the 3751 run ... Why is bnsf so
>  anti-steam?"
Ed- Why do You think it was that RR that cancelled trips?
How do You know if that RR is anti-steam? maybe not.

edsaalig Wrote:
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 Why is BNSF so
> anti-steam?

Apparently you have not been paying attention for the last many decades, as BN/BNSF has hosted SP 4449, SP&S 700, Milwaukee 261, AT&SF 3751, and Frisco 1522 on operations all over their system. Their management certainly can NOT be generalized as "anti-steam"!

So this sounds like the death knell for main line steam excursions.   Aren't Amtrak's insurance costs part of their price?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/16 10:41 by The_Chief_Way.

Don't be so quick to blame BNSF.  A trip to San Diego requires approval from four different entities and not just BNSF.  

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

webmaster Wrote:
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> Don't be so quick to blame BNSF.  A trip to San
> Diego requires approval from four different
> entities and not just BNSF.  

I was about to post the exact same thing Todd......

Thing that irritates me i9s the guys assuming BNSF is Anti-Steam and that post with CSX, you guys really got a nice view of Class 1s don't ya!

"Host railroad" includes Amtrak.