Bass Run Rail Riders http://www.bassrun.org

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Bass Run Rail Ridershttp//www.bassrun.org

• Eric Curtis, President
• Matt Mantell, Vice President
• Justin Kennedy, Treasurer
• Mike Valentine, Secretary

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Overview

• The Motorcar Hobby
• Who is Bass Run Rail Riders?
• BRRRs plan
• Community Impact
• Benefits to Ohio Railroads ORDC
• What About ?
• Community Support of BRRR
• Summary

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The Motorcar Hobby

• Consists of local clubs that report to the North
  American Rail Car Operators Association (NARCOA),
  a national oversight board (online at
  www.narcoa.org)
• Involves both historical speeders, handcars and
  newer hy-rail vehicles
• Has members who use vehicles on sponsored
  excursions
• To view historic landmarks and share experiences
  with friends and families in a unique way
• To see scenery not accessible by any other means
• Excursions usually consist of a group of 10-30
  vehicles who travel between 10 and 100 miles
  together
• Most take place on active rails with the
  permission of the host railroad
• Involves significant advanced planning, specific
  schedules, excursion coordinators, and follows
  the rules set forth by NARCOA
• Each individual member and every club has
  liability insurance

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The Motorcar Hobby
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Who is Bass Run Rail Riders, Inc.?

• Bass Run Rail Riders (BRRR) is an Ohio Non-profit
  Limited Liability Corporation whose purpose is
• To lease, maintain, and repair closed and out of
  service rail lines with the permission of Ohio
  Rail Development Commission (ORDC)
• To preserve and educate others about railroad
  history, operation, safety, and to promote
  goodwill and public relations between local
  communities and the railroad
• To share experiences related to motorcar
  operation in a social environment
• To assist BRRR volunteers in sharing railroading
  and railroad history as a hobby with their
  families and friends and provide a unique way to
  spend quality time together
• BRRR consists of officers and a coalition of
  volunteers interested in speeders, handcars,
  railroad operation, railroad history and railroad
  preservation

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Who is Bass Run Rail Riders Inc.?

• BRRR is a Non-profit Limited Liability
  Corporation, drawing volunteers from NARCOA clubs
• BRRR is a coalition of people from national and
  regional clubs
• NARCOA (national)
• Ohio Valley Railcars (OH, MI, KY, WV, IN, PA)
• Great Lakes Railcars (MI, WI)
• North Central Railcar Association (PA)
• BRRR is affiliated with organizations that are
  doing similar activities in other areas
• Recreational Railroad Coalition (California)
• Cotton Valley Rail Trail Club (New England
  states)
• New Brunswick Recreational Rail Riders (New
  Brunswick, Canada)
• BRRR is affiliated with industry organizations
• Ohio Rail Tourism Association
• NARCOA

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BRRRs Plan

• BRRR is currently interested in maintaining the
  Glassrock Spur in Perry and Muskingum counties
  for motorcar operations
• 14 mile spur
• Glassrock (Perry County)
• Mt. Perry (Perry)
• Fultonham (Muskingum)
• White Cottage (Muskingum)
• Avondale (Muskingum)

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BRRRs Plan

• Bass Run Rail Riders will operate one of the most
  unique recreational destinations in the state of
  Ohio for use solely by historic railroad
  motorcars, handcars, and maintenance of way
  equipment.
• Will draw motorcar owners and generate interest
  from all over North America
• Each motorcar operator spends an average of 300
  per excursion
• Lodging
• Food
• Gas
• Entertainment
• Excursions typically have 10-30 cars
• Excursion are expected to occur at least every
  other month
• If successful, BRRR will operate the only
  recreational railroad in the State of Ohio,
  drawing motorcar operators and devotees from
  across Ohio and neighboring states.

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Community Impact

• Money
• Tourist income (18,000 -45,000 per year)
• Creates many possibilities for the future of the
  spur
• Aesthetics
• Rail corridor will be maintained
• Trash removed
• Weeds and trees controlled
• Regular presence and inspections on spur
• Limit vandalism, theft, and trespassing
• Community
• Possible town festival attractions (Depot Days)
• Improved appearance of road crossings

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Benefits to Ohios Railroads ORDC

• Regular motorcar meets with no impact to
  statewide rail activity
• Currently motorcars meet (with permission) on
  revenue generating routes, impacting live rail
  operations
• BRRR will maintain the Glassrock spur for
  scheduled excursions away from revenue generating
  routes
• Ohio retains the line for future growth
• The State will continue to own the line for
  future growth
• Carter Lumber, Sidwell Materials, Suburban
  Landfill, Oglebay-Norton, future Perry County
  Industrial Park
• ORDC will incur no costs in keeping the line
  available for future use
• BRRR will maintain insurance, signage, right of
  way, and barriers against off road vehicle use
• BRRR will use existing, proven methods for safe
  road crossings
• BRRR will work with ODOT and County Engineers in
  making crossings usable by motorcars
• BRRR will be able to monitor the line to protect
  ORDCs investment
• Members live locally (Newark Columbus)
• Reports or information can be provided by BRRR to
  ORDC about rail condition and activity when
  requested.

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Benefits to Ohios Railroads ORDC

• Landowner concerns are reduced
• Many land owners are reluctant of bike paths or
  hiking trails by their property due to
  trespassing of users (Somerset)
• Land owners prefer a membership only organization
  or business using the right of way that borders
  their property
• Regular activity on the line
• Prevents landowner encroachment and continues to
  establish ownership of the right of way for Ohio
• Line maintenance
• BRRR will do regular inspections of the rails,
  right of way, culverts and trestles
• BRRR will clear trash, weeds, brush, trees,
  washouts, and crossings AT NO COST to ORDC or the
  state of Ohio
• BRRR will also maintain the right of way
  sufficient for motorcar operation
• BRRR will remove non-repairable buildings and
  rebuild historic or usable buildings (i.e. the
  Fultonham scale house will be rebuilt)

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What About ?

• Liability
• BRRR will maintain a liability policy
• Similar policies in effect cost between 1,200
  and 2,800 per year
• Individual operators will maintain personal
  policies as well
• Motorcar liability insurance is provided through
  Empire Insurance Services, LLC.
• http//www.narcoa.org/docs/insurance/2006insurance
  app.pdf
• Safety
• Extremely safe
• Strict NARCOA policies as defined at
  www.narcoa.org will be followed
• Routine safety inspections of line and vehicles
  will be conducted
• New operators must be mentored
• Excursions are planned in advance
• Safety coordinators provide guidance
• Noise
• Less powerful than modern cars
• Same size and noise exposure as modern cars

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Community Support of BRRR

• Muskingum County Commissioners
• September 7, 2006
• Madison Township Trustees (Perry County / Mt.
  Perry)
• September 11, 2006
• Ohio Central Railroad
• September 12, 2006
• Various Land Owners
• Have expressed interest and approval of the plan
• Perry County Commissioners
• Meeting to be scheduled. Initial letters
  outlining the plan have been submitted
• District Representatives
• Meeting to be scheduled. Initial letters
  outlining the plan have been submitted

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Summary

• Bass Run Rail Riders (BRRR) objective is to
  provide a dedicated place for motorcar owners to
  operate independent of revenue producing lines.
  BRRR will be sustained through donations,
  volunteer work, and help from interested parties.
  The benefits to the community will include local
  income, improved aesthetics, possibility for
  future business, and community involvement. The
  benefits to the state include the possibility for
  future growth and revenue along the corridor, an
  active presence along the spur, frequent
  inspections and maintenance, limitation of
  trespassers, and liability shifted to BRRR.
• The proposal presented by BRRR is the only
  proposal that will allow all other plans under
  consideration (commercial operation, tourist
  railroad, rail banking, and a trail system) to be
  plausible in the future.
• Community leaders and various land owners have
  reviewed the plan, seen the benefits of this
  idea, and agree that this is a positive option.
  Those in the motorcar hobby who have been briefed
  on the idea understand the benefits and support
  the idea of obtaining an unused line for regular,
  scheduled operation.
• Creating a place for motorcar operation is
  advantageous for the involved communities, the
  Ohio rail system, the Ohio Rail Development
  Commission, and those who enjoy railroads. BRRR
  has the resources, backing, manpower, and
  enthusiasm to make this plan succeed. BRRR will
  create a dedicated destination for motorcars to
  operate. The members of BRRR look forward to
  fostering goodwill between the railroads and the
  public, and preserving a historic rail resource
  for future generations.