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Originally Posted by Graebarde
Don't think most railroads would JUMP at the chance since they pushed to abolish passenger service in the first place when the started loosing money on it at the end of WW2. Took them twenty years to do it, but MOST of them wanted out of it. Now in the twilight era, I could see passenger service coming back, IF they have rail service at all.
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However the competition that was taking the profit out of transporting people. Namely got nuked out of business. Those Bus lines are harbored in, and operate out of cities.
Secondly, fuel is no longer cheap to burn for the profit of moving people. Refined fuel is not cheap, rationed, and mostly for Govt purposes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graebarde
Rail recovery would be one of the primary goals in rebuilding America. It is the most effecient means of moving tonnage of all modes. Two persons move 5000 tons hundreds of miles.. vs 250 plus semi trailers on the interstate?
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Exactly why I think it will be prime movement in TW2k. Also the first choice to move many people for acceptable cost in the resource poor period after the exchange of nuclear gifts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graebarde
While I love the steam operations, I think the emphasis would be getting the d-e engines working again. Steam is dead from lack of sufficient infastructure to readily support it, as well as the limited number of operational engines. Yes on area basis, they will be used, IF they have the perosnnel to operate and maintain them.. a whole new skill set that is a hobby now..
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Diesel fuel becomes the issue. I am sure they would love them but, if you can’t get fuel because there are no oil rigs, refineries, or holding tanks; alternatives have to be found.
As for the skill set. The damn machine is crawling in enthusiasts that will drown you in minutiae. Heck some will operate just because they always wanted to. A real rail mission with real freight, would be a wet dream.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graebarde
Fuel is still the critical point with any of the modes.. and for steam WATER is needed more often than fuel.. it takes at least six pounds of water per pound of fuel for a steam engine.. somewhere I have data on the consumption factor of steam engines, but they guzzled the water and fuel. Yes the coal and wood, or heavy oil, can and has been used, but that is intensive use of resources for other things too.
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Doesn’t have to be drinking water just sediment free and mineral free if that can be helped. Water tanks can be improvised along the line. If it can be done in 1860 TW2k can find a way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graebarde
About the time of T2K there were still two rail operations battalions in the reserves.. still are I think. During WW2 there were a score or more battalions, each sponsored by a civilian railroad actually. It's what I think would be the picture of American railroads in T2000.
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Their still around and still recruiting for the Army Reserve.