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Post by gatewaygent on Mar 12, 2015 17:35:52 GMT -8
Just to put it into perspective, this tunnel is 90 years old and hasn't been used for rail service in the last 60. And? The first subways in Tokyo, New York (actually a seismic area in of itself), and London are all at least a century old (London's is 125 years old). Not sure how lack of operations for six decades determines it's reuse practicality and deterioration (if any) of the tunnel. OK, fair enough. Lack of operation doesn't necessarily equal issues with structural integrity. However, improvements and modernization aside, those 60 years still represents a lot of maintenance and upkeep that didn't take place. It's not that we're playing with Pandora's box here, but rather how do you put a positive spin on a 90 year old tunnel that turns into a money pit?
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Post by bobdavis on Mar 12, 2015 22:12:52 GMT -8
Regarding the subway scene in "While the City Sleeps": It's been posted on the Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society website (pacificelectric.org). Click on "Pacific Electric", click on "Western District" and enter "sleeps" in the "Search" box.
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Post by fredmcain on Mar 13, 2015 4:48:56 GMT -8
I guess what really bothers me the most, and what really got me interested in this issue, was the fact that $25 MILLION dollars were spent to build this in 1925 and today it lies there unused. $25 Million? Those are 1925 dollars. What would that be in today's money? Like I say, it's a terrible shame. Only in America could we do this. Well, maybe not "only" in America but we Americans are darn good at it.
Having said this, however, I recognize that Bart almost certainly knows a lot more about this than I do. In fact, he has probably forgotten more about it than I ever knew so, I guess, I have to accept what he's saying.
Still seems like a shame, though. Lest I end my post on a depressing note, check this out once: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFBYJNAapyk
Some nice scenes of electric cars in downtown L.A. can be seen there !
Regards, Fred M. Cain
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Post by joemagruder on Mar 13, 2015 15:04:26 GMT -8
As an aficionado of electric rail transit I wish the subway had a use. But I can't see how it has a role now. Storage areas need to be on edges of the city core so that trains can make all downtown stops before terminating their runs (or can make all downtown stops after beginning their runs).
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