Steam Train Tourists?
With some of the ideas that come and go around this city, I’m rarely surprised. Spire anyone? For some reason this one surprised me. More correctly, it baffles me. Tom Payne, a Canadian businessman, has brought his circa 1923 steam train to Tacoma. He’s betting that 600 people each Saturday and Sunday will pay $50 each to ride it round trip from Tacoma to Frederickson. Trains. That’s cool. Tacoma has a history with trains. I’m a little curious about the economics of the business model.
Link: Tacoma train tour hopes for all aboard – The News Tribune
Link: The Golden Pacific Railroad
A history of this train (2100): SteamLocomotive.com
4 comments
I Ingrid Walker November 20, 2012
Maybe something like this?
The IDEA Festival started years ago when I lived in Lexington, KY. Over time, it has morphed from an interesting pre-TED idea festival to something that has stimulated several city projects and organizational collaborations in business and non-profit.
http://www.ideafestival.com/
Or, how about we convince the Maker Faire to come north before Seattle or Portland does?
J Jesse November 20, 2012
A Saturday Market on Broadway just south of the Elks. There’s plenty of roll-up doors with paking behind them, and the grafitti garage space that could be used for the art booths in a covered but outside area and the surface level parking lot south of Elks/Spanish stairs could be a food cart roundup. Cart roundup and music stage sponsored by McMenamins.
I would love to be on the committee to make that happen. My dream job would be to work for the Economic Development Dept in Tacoma so I could do that stuff full time…
J Jenny Jenkins November 20, 2012
I love the idea of a Saturday Market like a smaller version of the Portland Saturday Market. And the graffiti garages would be a cool place for it.
F fred davie November 21, 2012
The Pierce County Health Department makes it hard to sell food on the street in Tacoma and this (I believe) is why you see few food vendors at events such as those under discussion. And the city of Tacoma has an additional layer of regulations with regard to street vending.
I already have all these permits to sell such products and the red tape, the paperwork, complicated proceedures and expensive fees required are more than it’s worth.