I wonder how realisticly functional a member's co-op of train (engines, rolling stock) production would be? There
are agricultural co-ops and credit unions, and club productions of short runs, such as that of the Upper Peninsula,
Mich. run of cars due soon. Weaver was doing special runs, but I don't know if their suppliers have dried up. It
would be nice if members of such a co-op could subscribe to runs of electronic and conventional locos, of varying
prototypes, as well as cars not made for the masses. Probably any savings by eliminating profit would go to offset the loss of savings of quantity of scale, but, at least, something different would get built.
Now...as to what would get built. I guess members could write in suggestions with arguments, a selection of
choices could be entered on a ballot, and members could vote. Since these would be members' only low production, the produced items would become low run collectibles which would incentivize support.
