UP Steam Excursions

[stlgevo51]

The final four routes for UP's steam excursion trip have been announced. Be sure to cast your vote! Preferably the Little Rock trip! I wish they would learn how to spell Chamios correct on the web site though.
http://www.upexcursion.com/

[Ween]

Those routes are TERRIBLE!

[jdirelan87]

Wow, I didn't know anything about this until I saw that link. What an awesome idea! I don't understand how any railfan can hate on UP. The other Class Ones won't even have an open house anymore, let alone something like this.

[jnohallman]

I just can't believe Tennessee Pass didn't make the cut . . . lol!

Jon

[crazytiger]

Those routes are TERRIBLE!

You can say what you want, but from what I understand, the Chicago one especially, these routes have been pretty steam-starved.

[JRMDC]

My guess is that the Chicago area bid is winning strictly because of population. Doesn't matter which route is prettiest or most interesting, what matters is which one are you most likely to go see the train.

[crazytiger]

That was my guess, too. Chicago has much more population than the others.

[Ween]

I just can't believe Tennessee Pass didn't make the cut . . . lol!

Jon

It won't happen if you don't ask. But Salt Lake City to Grand JCT would have been nice.

Or rather, ANYTHING would be better that Tuscola, IL! Why is that place a terminus? What am I missing? I'd be willing to put my entire year's salary onthe line that Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or Grand Junction received more votes than Tuscola.

Massive. Sham.

And fail. Thanks for reminding me why I hate you, UP...

[stlgevo51]

The Chicago route does suck. It is all flat land from Iowa to Tuscola besides Chicago. The challenger came to St. Louis last year, but if the Little Rock trip won it would go down a completely different route, which is very scenic and a great line for chasing. It is too bad that it won't win.

[jdirelan87]

And fail. Thanks for reminding me why I hate you, UP...

Thats right, let them have it! Forget UP, they suck!

....

So, remind me again what the routes and dates are for BNSF's steam run. While you're at it, can you include the link for CSX's and NS' railfan contest?

[PLEzero]

Thats right, let them have it! Forget UP, the suck!

....

So, remind me again what the routes and dates are for BNSF's steam run. While you're at it, can you include the link for CSX's and NS' railfan contest?

:-D Exactly. I've seen way too much complaining on various forums. A lot of people need to end the "more more more" attitude and be greatful for what we are given.


It won't happen if you don't ask. But Salt Lake City to Grand JCT would have been nice.

Or rather, ANYTHING would be better that Tuscola, IL! Why is that place a terminus? What am I missing? I'd be willing to put my entire year's salary onthe line that Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or Grand Junction received more votes than Tuscola.

Massive. Sham.

And fail. Thanks for reminding me why I hate you, UP...

The route was created by fans. For a certain period of time, everyone was able to sign up and submit their town. UP then created routes based on the cities with the highest number of submissions. Those routes were then put to a vote. Maybe you should have been a little more proactive in the process instead of sitting back and bitching about the results.


If you look at the link below you can see the leader board. Ottergoose is currently siting comfortably at #3.

http://www.upexcursion.com/leaderboard/

[Ween]

The route was created by fans. For a certain period of time, everyone was able to sign up and submit their town. UP then created routes based on the cities with the highest number of submissions. Those routes were then put to a vote. Maybe you should have been a little more proactive in the process instead of sitting back and bitching about the results.

Really?!?!? You don't think I didn't participate? I was about as proactive as I could be given my various outlets, and FWIW, I'm just off the posted Leaderboard there in total votes. Instead of jumping to conclusions on where I stood in relation to participation, perhaps you could have done a little more research...for example, I didn't see anyone take this approach to get the vote out:

[photoid=343097]

Besides, this was not a straight-up, most-votes-wins deal. Again, can anyone tell me the significance of Tuscola, IL? And can anyone say with a straight face that Tuscola was a big vote-getter?

Get real.

[JRMDC]

The route was created by fans. For a certain period of time, everyone was able to sign up and submit their town. UP then created routes based on the cities with the highest number of submissions. Those routes were then put to a vote.

Besides, this was not a straight-up, most-votes-wins deal. Again, can anyone tell me the significance of Tuscola, IL? And can anyone say with a straight face that Tuscola was a big vote-getter?



I say that, compared to a conspiracy argument, it is much, much more likely that all the chicagoland railfans chose various points drivable from their area, the UP constructed a route that covered those points - or otherwise served the area in which they saw a large number of votes coming in.

So they served the area. One hypothesis, I don't claim to know the inside story.

[crazytiger]

Besides, this was not a straight-up, most-votes-wins deal. Again, can anyone tell me the significance of Tuscola, IL? And can anyone say with a straight face that Tuscola was a big vote-getter?

Get real.

I suspect they just chose to end it there. The purpose was to route it through the most vote getting locations, I thought. In which case, they likely did a good job.

[ken45]

Again, can anyone tell me the significance of Tuscola, IL?

Why not let Tuscola speak for itself? Tuscola (http://www.tuscola.org)

Edit: This is my 666th post! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[jdirelan87]

I suspect they just chose to end it there. The purpose was to route it through the most vote getting locations, I thought. In which case, they likely did a good job.

Thats my guess too. I'm sure Chicago and its surrounding suburbs killed it in the votes and the two ends points are probably convenient places for UP to service the engine. In short, don't focus on where the route starts or end, but where it goes in between. Pretty sure the population of Chicagoland blows that of the Front Range region out of the water.... including the railfan population.

PS: I voted for the Idaho route. I'm not gonna go shot it regardless of where it, so I picked the route I figured it would be the most scenic.

[stlgevo51]

Really?!?!? You don't think I didn't participate? I was about as proactive as I could be given my various outlets, and FWIW, I'm just off the posted Leaderboard there in total votes.
Maybe it was because "Minturn, CO" was not an available option.

As for Tuscola, maybe there are a group of steam fans from the surrounding areas that got together and all voted for Tuscola. If you asked me, I don't know why they didn't route it down the Springfield Sub and go to Springfield.

[troy12n]

Those are terrible choices except for the Boise one. I voted for the little rock one because I could actually hit that one.

[stlgevo51]

And the winner is...

The Little Rock Express!

Thanks to all who voted for the Little Rock trip because chasing down the De Soto Sub is going to be a blast!

[crazytiger]

Wow, that was a surprise. I thought the Tuscola Turn had it set.

[stlgevo51]

Me too! I thought the huge metropolis that was Chicago was going to beat us down. But I guess with KC, St. Louis, and Little Rock, we were able to slide ahead.

[coborn35]

I'd be willing to put my entire year's salary onthe line that Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or Grand Junction received more votes than Tuscola.
.
Oddly enough last week I had to opportunity to speak with the man in charge of this whole deal, a Senior VP of the Union Pacific. In Pueblo.:twisted: