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  • Conway Scenic Railroad (CSRX) discussion thread

  • Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New England
Pertaining to all railroading subjects, past and present, in New England

Moderators: MEC407, NHN503

 #1581974  by EastYorkTrainFaan
 
b&m 1566 wrote: Tue Oct 05, 2021 4:17 pm Arborwayfan & p42thedowneaster - while the idea sounds good, it's not really possible for a number of reasons. You would need another crew to operate the train, all the land around Crawford's and Fabyan stations, is owned by AMC and Omni respectively. To build a parking lot for that type of operation, they would need to lease or purchase land for a parking lot and that's a big investment for something that would only be used about 4 weeks a year.
Exatly it's not like in North Conway at the station wher they have space for parking or in Conway at the frieght house where they also have parking too if they need to use it for something. Like for example when they have run the shuttle trains on July 4th and one year they did the railfans train to Hazen satring from there.
 #1581981  by CSRR573
 
Hey! Enough of this hypothetical talk of a train originating at Fabyans! Im still waiting for my Depot street to settlers green and Fryeburg fair shuttle runs. I can only hold my breath for so long!
 #1582015  by b&m 1566
 
Railfan's Day or Weekend, was canceled because they don't have enough help. I read everyone's complaints all summer long and yet not one of those complaints offered solution or a helping hand. It's easier to sit behind a key board and Monday morning quarterback, everything they do or don't do instead.
 #1582023  by BM1566GP7
 
Back to the 252, the two person repair crew from Mississippi will need lodging in NC. Is there any suitable lodging on the CSRX property? Is the old B&M bunk car still in usuable condition? This is peak season in NC. Any and all lodging throughout the area is at peak rates and likely sold out anyway. Except for this Sunday (cloudy and cooler), weather looks good for the next nine days. If they have to pay big bucks for a motel for the crew, meals, etc., that could increase the cost of repairs by one-thid or more.
 #1582031  by b&m 1566
 
The contractors are already at the railroad working on the engine, they have been for the last week or two. From what I gather Conway Scenic mechanics, disassemble what needed to be disassembled and the specialist took over from there.
 #1582074  by backroadrails
 
b&m 1566 wrote:Railfan's Day or Weekend, was canceled because they don't have enough help. I read everyone's complaints all summer long and yet not one of those complaints offered solution or a helping hand. It's easier to sit behind a key board and Monday morning quarterback, everything they do or don't do instead.
I could fully understand this viewpoint, if the other circumstances regarding the railroad didn't contradict it. Last time I was there, I don't think I recognized more than 1 or 2 employees. And I have been going for 20+ years at least once a year. Even a good deal of the "old" timers were missing. So there is definitely politics at play behind the scenes, which has lead to the mass exodus (kind of like how they have not had a GM for almost two years). And honestly, I was disappointed in the experience for the first time. The cars were dirty (not just the paint job on the outside) granted, I bought the cheapest tickets, its not like I was going to be doing a $15,000.00+ charter trip across the country. But there was trash laying about in the car, as well as gum on the seat, both of which appeared that they had been there for some time (the one trash can in the car had trash stacked up the wall, as well as trash laying in a pile beside it). Although I visited on a sunny day, a friend rode the valley train on another day when it was raining, and he got soaked due to a roof leak. The train crew told him to take the issue up with the office, and when he did, the response he got in short was "So, what do you want us to do about it?"
 #1582099  by BowdoinStation
 
While good news spreads, bad news spreads much faster.. I have a hard time believing someone in the ticket office would just tell someone "What do you want us to do about it?", unless that person is totally inept or untrained to deal with customer service issues. If it were me, I would speak to the owners. That just doesn't smell quite right, even with all the staffing issues we hear that are going on at the CSRX, I can't believe that anyone on their front lines could be that blatantly inattentive. The railroad does have a reputation to protect.

Just like most businesses, whether a tourist railroad, freight railroad, or a pizza joint, everyone is looking for people !
 #1582104  by MEC407
 
According to their web site, the only job openings they have right now are "one or two ticket agents."
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 #1582127  by MEC407
 
I checked the major job listing sites and CSRR doesn't have any jobs listed on any of them. They can't complain about being short staffed if they aren't advertising their job openings. That's basic business 101.

I did find this rather concerning review on the most popular job site:
Incompetent micro managing owners drove the entire culinary team away. AVOID!
July 19, 2021
Any good marks i gave management is for a manager that is no longer there. The owners managed to make the entire culinary and bar staff leave. They do not care about you as a person or worker. Last year they had some of us working 60-80 hour weeks during covid, resulting in diminished morale, physical, and mental health in all culinary staff. This went unthanked and unappreciated.
 #1582267  by NHV 669
 
Saw a post from an old classmate online stopping to eat enroute to the Fryeburg Fair. Glen Junction Restaurant is back open, the train circling the dining area is alive once more.
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