04-30-2010, 09:24 PM
Route 66, the Rat Pack, and so many more classic images of the Baby Boom/American post-war high period could be a big hit in this social/cultural malaise we're slogging through now. My wife and I were at a Rat Pack themed Italian restaurant last week with a really great 'lounge singer' singing the great hits of that period. I'd rather be riding in a plush velvet seat in a diner/tavern/lounge listening to him croon than some cowboy with a gheetar.
But I bet they could certainly offer both styles on alternating schedules. I grew up going to Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC. My grandfather, who worked there, has a picture of Fred Kirby, the singing cowboy, holding a shy little 3-year old boy (yours truly). I love the cowboy atmosphere there even though it's located in the middle of the Blue Ridge (understandably, destitute appalachian hillbillies of the depression just doesn't work as well as cowboys and indians, er, native americans). But even Tweetsie has fallen on harder times and has brought in Thomas, a Halloween night (complete with 'ghost train' ride) and many more crowd draws.
At least at Tweetsie they are stuck with steam, and they have the shop to do it right. They've serviced several crown locos from Busch Gardens at their shops, and it is a "theme" park. GCRy seems to be a great ride with a fabulous location, and steam, stored servicable, can always be rebuilt and revived. I hope they will be able to run more steam in the future but for now it may be the better choice to do what they can to survive until then.
Galen
But I bet they could certainly offer both styles on alternating schedules. I grew up going to Tweetsie Railroad in Boone, NC. My grandfather, who worked there, has a picture of Fred Kirby, the singing cowboy, holding a shy little 3-year old boy (yours truly). I love the cowboy atmosphere there even though it's located in the middle of the Blue Ridge (understandably, destitute appalachian hillbillies of the depression just doesn't work as well as cowboys and indians, er, native americans). But even Tweetsie has fallen on harder times and has brought in Thomas, a Halloween night (complete with 'ghost train' ride) and many more crowd draws.
At least at Tweetsie they are stuck with steam, and they have the shop to do it right. They've serviced several crown locos from Busch Gardens at their shops, and it is a "theme" park. GCRy seems to be a great ride with a fabulous location, and steam, stored servicable, can always be rebuilt and revived. I hope they will be able to run more steam in the future but for now it may be the better choice to do what they can to survive until then.
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!