Things aren't looking good for the Greenbrier Express

It seems like before this train was proposed, someone should have done a study or at least have had some discussions with CSX and Amtrak to see if it was feasible. From various sources I've read about the Greenbrier Express this is what went wrong:

• CSX doesn't want steam on its rails. From Washington the train would have traveled to Orange, VA on the NS, Orange to Clifton Forge, VA on The Buckingham Branch Railroad, and then From Clifton Forge to White Sulphur Springs, WVA on CSX. Obviously the CSX part was a problem. The 614 was moved to Clifton Forge, but was eventually supposed to be moved to a siding next to The Greenbrier Resort for display.
• When steam power fell through, some ex-NS Dash 9's were purchased to power the train. CSX didn't want another passenger train running between Orange and Clifton Forge because its westbound coal empties are routed thru VA via the Buckingham Branch. As the passing sidings on that portion of track aren't long enough to accommodate a coal train, this would mean holding trains east of Charlottesville and disrupt traffic.
• The final choice for the Greenbrier Express was to tack it on the end of the three times a week Amtrak Cardinal. The Feds decided that would make it a regularly scheduled passenger train and would have to meet present safety standards for passenger cars. That would require all sorts of special furniture to be designed and built for the cars.

Looking back on what went wrong, it seems these problems could have been anticipated with a bit of research and discussions with CSX and Amtrak.

Now I wonder what's going to happen to the 614. Will it stay in Clifton Forge? Will it be repainted black (please!).

Ken

And this from a guy that painted an N&W J gray-black-yellow! C'mon man! 

Wowak, I don't we should be too hard on Ross.  In spite of his ideas that that didn't get out of the roundhouse, he did put together the American Freedom Train and the Golden Spike Centennial Limited.  The AFT gave us a resuscitated Daylight and  a Reading T-1 and many other good things. The GSCL proved to many that a long dead locomotive can be brought back to life and inspire thousands of people.  I for one saw it come through Lima, Ohio on the way back from  KC and that carried me into joining with those forming the FWRHS and that gave us a live and well-traveled NKP 765.

So my praise to Ross Rowland for his projects that DID succeed!

I never thought the scheme had a chance from the get-go although it would have been nice.