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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.

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Professionally, I have worked with a good many co-ops. Personally, with this experience, I would not support such an effort as you describe. Too many decision makers and too much time necessary to get a good consensus.

 

On paper it looks and sounds good, but in reality, to me, not so good.

I'd do this on a prototype scale model basis. For instance, if 25 folks wanted to "co-op" to have an Atlas-quality Lehigh Valley "wrong way" boxcar or a GPEX 52' milk car, I would jump right in.

I would also join a co-op that would work with a 3rd Rail or Weaver to do many anthracite road steam engines.

Let's start with a NYO&W Dickson-built 2-8-0... Takers?


I am not worried about death-by-committee as the way I would do it is to simply use the co-op to fund the project, but let the research and planning be done by Williams,
Weaver, b'mann or whomever the  build partner is.

Rob
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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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