Peter, saw those trains in and out of Portland -- and all across the northwest, on a due diligence drive this winter. As a train nut, would slow with incredulity at the length of trains and size of the yards. Have more interest in old model trains, and their real prototypes, thus many sidetrips and photo stops along the way - Durango - Virginia City - and up near you I spotted an oldie out on the way to Twin Rocks.
One company of interest in this department is RTEX, which has bought up alot of old spur lines and seems to be doing pretty well. Another train-related stock is NYRR, which is by-passing Conrail by using barges to transport cars from NJ to Brooklyn.
On recent trips to France, rode the TGV (high speed train) alot. The company with the US franchise for the type of rails used for these trains (the franchisor is based in Germany) is ATSZ, which hasn't seen alot of action but recently has ticked up a bit.
Personally, I wish that we could go back to the old days of dining cars and sleepers. Even the TGV looks like a Metroliner, although it goes alot faster and seems more reliable.
Off subject, am interested in a variety of other companies as well. Just started a thread on a water bottling company -IWWC- that's got an interesting relationship to Indian reservations, with major financing from a tribe with casino revenues,that's interested in diversification/reinvestment. On my trip, saw lots of indian run casinos, as well as some reservations that looked like they could use some business development as promised by the kind of joint venture Indian Wells has underway. Anyway, check it out if you think it of interest. |
