From: terryfry@access.digex.com (Terry Fry)
Subject: Re:  Diesel vs. Electric Locomotive Maintenance
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, Greenbelt, Maryland USA
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 19:21:23 GMT

In article <1992Oct16.171129.4878@athena.mit.edu> sathomas@athena.mit.edu (Stephen A Thomas) writes:
>In my last posting I made the statement "It's hard to believe that anyone doesn't
>know that the GG1 isn't running anymore" or something to that effect.  
>
>I got myself into all sorts of trouble for a simple statement of suprise.  I
>personally apologized to an obviously offended poster and I'll apologize publicly
>for not considering the effect of my statement.  I have to say however that I
>feel that a person should be able to put a little personality and feeling into a
>posting without having to apologize for it.  I've gotten replies back to
>questions I've asked in groups which treat me like I just fell off the proverbial
>turnip truck.  But remember - none of us knows the background, personality,
>education, etc. of other posters so we try to treat them like we'd treat a
>friend;  in a casual, conversational manner.  Certainly there are things I don't
>know about rail - I'm sure I'd be amazed at the things I don't know.  But, I
>guess there are some things that some of us take for granted that we shouldn't. 
>All this adds up to the possiblity of offending someone without even realizing it.
>

I don't think it was that bad, possibly ambiguos phrasing led to the mis-under
standing.  Oh well....

>But this is a RAIL group not a philosophy group.

Now this *is* arguable <g>.....


>I agree with Terry that there is basically terrible coverage of the Northeast
>Corridor.  I'm not sure of the figures, but Amtrak does a large percentage of its
>business on the NEC - and I believe it even makes a profit (?).  Where is all the
>coverage of the AEM7 that the new diesels seem to get?  If there ever was an
>article on it, I haven't found it (and I've looked hard - now someone will tell
>me "of course there's one in the (month)/(year) of Trains and you didn't see
>it?").  Or how about the planned electrification/improvements to the NewHaven - 
>Boston section?  Or about Amtrak's Pennsylvania service (Philly-Harrisburg under
>electric power, but is it part of NEC, and does Amtrak use electrics on it
>anymore?  I know they used E60CP's on it pulling Metroliners with dead motors for
>a while)  There was one article in TRAINS about 1985(?) which did a good job on
>going thru Corridor issues then, but certainly things have changed since then.

The NEC, on its own merrits does run in the black.  How much so, I don't
know.


>Could this be a Diesel conspiracy to keep the "scourge" of the "awful
>European-like electrics" out of the public eye?  (note saracasm)  Or do the
>publishers think that because there are no mountains to cross or no deserts to
>fly thru that people wouldn't be interested in the pictures.(If that's true
>they've never seen an AEM-7 pass over the Susquehanna river bridge in Maryland)
>It's probably more that they just haven't had authors who are interested in
>covering the Corridor.

As to why Trains lacks coverage of the NEC there are several real reasons,
anyone or all might apply:

1)  Demographics... they don't have that many subscribers in that area (hard
    to believe, but possible.)

2)  Competition.  Possibly there are other magazines that compete for
    electric coverage (The New Electric Journal) ect.

3)  They consider it "Metro".  Trains doesn't like to cover metro-commuter
    rail operations, unless its a news item.  Why, I don't know??

4)  How many people in the rest of the US deal with or are interested in
    electric power (ie, your theory on "European" engines vs. Deisel)
    I like European equipment, but I have a strong preference for American
    operations... just a preference.  Alot of people share this.

I'd like to see them expand coverage of the corridor, its a very
facinating place.  I'm hard pressed to say how wild it is to see a
Amtrak go by at 100+ MPH.... with no exhaust.  (Plus, for a railfan,
its easy to shoot... train frequency gives you about 36 award winning shots
per hour.  Motor drive nuts shoot a good 4 rolls of film in a hour near
the corridor...)


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