What kind of train would you buy?

Callufrax · 03-25-2007, 02:12 AM

Here's a question I asked on another rail forum, so now I'm going to ask it here.

You've just won a $50 million lottery! You now have the money to buy your own, brand new, train!

What kind of train would you buy? Would it be a rake of coaches and a locomotive, or a DMU? Would it be electro-diesel? Would it be gauge-convertible?

BNSF4682 · 03-25-2007, 03:19 AM

Well, first you would only get like 20 million dollars with the stupid taxes. But I would buy a train with 14 locomotives. 2 BNSF swoosh SD70Aces, 2 ES44DC UP Flags, 2 YN3 CSX Dash 9s, 2 NS Dash 8's, A conrail locomotive, A chessie GP38, A KCS Dash 9, A CN unit, A CP, and an SP locomotive. Then the train was extremely long. 100 of every type of car, Graffiti free. And a Conrail Caboose does the trick.

Mgoldman · 03-25-2007, 04:04 AM

As an appetizer I think I'd send some cash to several museums with restorations in progress.... (why aren't there any actors doing this???). Next on the slate would be restoration of a 4-8-4 CB&Q engine.

The big splurge would be the creation from scratch of a PRR T1!!!!
Maybe for the heck of it, I'd contract NS to build it in Altoona - wet their appetite for the return of steam and jobs back in Altoona. I'd have to overpay but it would be fun.

/Mitch

Mark Rosnick · 03-25-2007, 04:51 AM

I'd restore a GG1 and have my very own "Broadway Limited". We'd get cars restored and run it between Harrisburg and Philly for Keystone Service. On weekends it would be on display at 30th St. or Harrisburg. Then we'd restore some E8's and run it to Chicago. Hey we can dream can't we?

jb17kx · 03-25-2007, 06:15 AM

Wow... That's cross-posting for you!

My Railpage Answer still stands, though:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb17kx on railpage

Hmm, hard.

I would have three trainsets, one for each gauge.

Broad trainset:
S class and BL class locos (redundancy and fun!, FA and NL liveries)
Suitable rake of carriages including end platforms, observation domes, bars, loungues, airconditioning, that sort of stuff.

Standard Trainset:
One 48 and one 44 class loco, and a JL for when I get bored (in SRA red stripey livery)
Same style of consist.

EDIT: Ooh, or a QR 5000 class, or a Westrail L class. The possibilities!

Narrow Trainset:
QR 1500 and 1620 class, with a 1700 and 4000 class for variety. (Probably QR blue livery).
And again, same consist style.

EDIT: Ooh, I'll need generator cars.

And for smaller trips, 3 V'Locity-like DMUs, three-car, specially fitted out. One for each gauge.

There. 50mil should just about by all of this and maintain it for a few years. I'll be able to take weekend trips to Ballarat, or Albury, or Cairns, or Broken Hill, or wherever. What fun.

Just remind me to take the mufflers off the Alco locos...

Callufrax · 03-25-2007, 06:27 AM

My own Railpage answer also still stands.

I'd buy a six coach, pantograph-fitted (also with third rail pickups) DEMU. It would be capable of 125 mph / 200 kph.

The North American version would slightly differ from the Australian version - the addition of third-rail pickups, and the lack of variable gauge requirements!

CNWFreak · 03-25-2007, 05:05 PM

I'd buy the Chicago and Northwestern's "Twin Cities 400" consist, with a E3 pulling it. Then I'd buy a Wisconsin Central SD45. The rest I'd donate to the restoration of CNW 4-6-0 #1365 at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.

jb17kx · 03-25-2007, 09:52 PM

[quote=Callufrax]I'd buy a six coach, pantograph-fitted (also with third rail pickups) DEMU. It would be capable of 125 mph / 200 kph.[/quote[
Would you like ALCo power with your order, sir? Or, if you wish, we have a special on EMD 645s...

And what design? Based on the V'Locity, or the Hunter DMUs, or what?

Quote:

The North American version would slightly differ from the Australian version - the addition of third-rail pickups, and the lack of variable gauge requirements!

That's one thing these Yanks have over us. They were sensible enough to stick to one gauge.

Ween · 03-25-2007, 10:08 PM

If I had that money, I'd buy a model train and pay someone to come in and build the layout. In the meantime, I'd probably buy a Lear 35A and fly around the country to railfanning hotspots and take photos while my new model railroad is being built. Not really in the spirit of the thread, but that's what I'd do with $50M...

Tåg · 03-27-2007, 04:22 AM

I am seriously thinking about buying an old SD9 or SD40-2T and leasing it out for some extra income. There is a guy here in Portland that has an old F7, and a pair of ALCOs doing the same thing.

J. E. Landrum · 03-27-2007, 04:41 AM

I'd just get a very nice private car with a platform, parlor, dining room, bedrooms, and a galley.

WembYard · 03-28-2007, 05:21 PM

I wouldn't be interested in anything new.

Quite a few old things would appeal though, as many people and groups have discovered in the past, buying the item is the easy bit. Finding a railway to keep it on and the resources to maintain it are another matter (though $50 million would help in the latter case). Personally speaking, if I had that amount of money, I would prefer to make donations to selected groups and causes that interest me.

SD70MACMAN · 04-03-2007, 10:04 AM

I'd get one of the full dome cars, a Talgo trainset, and an SD70MAC to pull it around.

I would also pay BNSF to repaint BNSF 9400 BACK into BN 9400 executive w/ the chrome hand rails. Its a disgrace the first production North American AC locomotive lost its heritage colors.

Joe the Photog · 04-03-2007, 05:09 PM

I'd rescue an old dome car somewhere and pay the L&C Railway to restore it. I'm thinking there could be an MTV special in this: "Pimp My Dome." I also wouldn't mind buying a shortline somewhere. Not sure if 50 million would cover it, but from a railfan perspective, it seems like the Carolina Southern could use some fresh blood in the offices.

Joe

fuente1 · 04-03-2007, 06:55 PM

Id buy, or try to buy, N&W J Class 611 and Southern 4501. Restore both 100%, buy some of the old N&W/Southern coaches and stick them behind it to relive the glory days of the Excursion Program. (Prolly on the UP or BNSF, so they can run without lawyers) The rest of the "modern stuff" has no appeal to me and can be restored later on.

jfusaro · 04-04-2007, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuente1

Id buy, or try to buy, N&W J Class 611 and Southern 4501. Restore both 100%, buy some of the old N&W/Southern coaches and stick them behind it to relive the glory days of the Excursion Program.

uh-uh!

sorry!

611's already spoke for...

Studogg120 · 04-04-2007, 06:40 AM

ex. SP SW1500 and/or MP15AC. Thats all.

WetRailsWA · 04-05-2007, 05:12 PM

I'd buy an SD40 and have it painted in Milwaukee Road colors, circa 1975. To the back I would add a boxcar converted into an apartment on the inside only (with MILW paint scheme on the outside so it still looks like a boxcar), a flatcar to haul all my bicycles, and a MILW caboose as a "living room."

Then I would pay to have a connector laid between the BNSF mainline near Cle Elum WA and the old Milwaukee Road depot in South Cle Elum, parking the consist there for all to enjoy when I'm not on nationwide trips.

I'm thinking I might have just enough left over for a cheese sandwich at the Beanery...

U-3-b · 04-07-2007, 04:57 AM

Restore CN 9171 nee GTW F-3A 9013 back to its Gold and Green paint and tilted red and gold herald and return it back to Michigan to once again roam the old GTW mainline from Port Huron to Chicago.

Steve

tomt · 04-28-2007, 04:33 AM

i'd buy a machine shop, (a big one)

then i could make whatever-

417

Tåg · 04-28-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomt

i'd buy a machine shop, (a big one)

then i could make whatever-

417

I would be happy with a nice La Blonde Regal and a Bridgeport.