BJORK@SU-SCORE.ARPA (Steven Bjork) (01/15/86)
I had a few idle thoughts about some latter-day railroad towns. The classic example (to my mind) is San Diego. They fought to get a railroad into their town--only to have the Espee brush them off. When they did get a line, a gruesome blunder in locating the line resulted in it's being washed 100 miles out into the Pacific Ocean. Today, San Diego has it's very own railroad--the San Diego trolly. I suspect part of the success of the trolly is the longing those residents had for a railroad--even after 100 years! An example of a town that hates railroads--but loves trains--is San Francisco. When 4449 rolled up the peninsula, The City hailed it as a classic. And, look at the cable cars. Certainly not what you would call rapid transit! Now, BART is a railroad--and anyone who has lived in the bay area can tell you that the slightest problem at BART will be magnified by the papers into a disaster of Epic Proportion! The last railroad town I know of is Denver. The Denver and Rio Grande Western is a home-grown railroad that has survived many a battle. With the Union Pacific, Santa Fe, Rio Grande, and the Burlington Northern all entering Denver, it makes for a railroad town of no small proportion. Railfans know of the Rocky Mountain railroad club--and the State railroad museum. All these influences create to make Denver truly a Railroad Town worth visiting. --Steve -------