A Money Making Idea That Keeps Popping Into My Head

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Every so often I run across "barrel trains" like the one I posted about in my previous thread, "A Train Of A Different Sort," and other train related carnival type rides. I found a website about a year ago that builds trackless trains. http://www.tracklesstrainsales.com/train.html I keep wondering if I could make enough money from one of these to keep the loan paid off and be able to drive around my own "train." I just keep thinking it would be a blast to drive one of these around at all the local festivals and make a little money on the side. I could probably get a small business loan to finance it and if I could make enough to keep the loan paid off, I'd be happy. Thoughts, opinions and words of advice would be welcome.
 
N

nachoman

My advice:

Look into what type of insurance you may have to have and how much that would cost. I have seen too many things of good intent get sidelined by insurance costs.

other than that, sounds fun to build, and sounds fun and rewarding to operate! :)

Kevin
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
My advice:

Look into what type of insurance you may have to have and how much that would cost. I have seen too many things of good intent get sidelined by insurance costs.

other than that, sounds fun to build, and sounds fun and rewarding to operate! :)

Kevin

Ouch.... Insurance.
The killer of dreams. :(
 

MilesWestern

Active Member
Not just insurance, it's going to be a huge money-pit. It's not worth your time or effort. Plus they look like terribly fake looking. The only thing "train" about them is that there's more than one trailer pulled by a tractor, a roadtrain if you will. Somewhat like the semi-trucks in Australia.

If you like trains on a scale you can ride on, volunteer at a local parktrain operation or meet with other like-minded individuals to build a real miniature railroad you can be proud of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_TAdvFMG4
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
Not just insurance, it's going to be a huge money-pit. It's not worth your time or effort. Plus they look like terribly fake looking. The only thing "train" about them is that there's more than one trailer pulled by a tractor, a roadtrain if you will. Somewhat like the semi-trucks in Australia.

If you like trains on a scale you can ride on, volunteer at a local parktrain operation or meet with other like-minded individuals to build a real miniature railroad you can be proud of. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I_TAdvFMG4

Honestly, a "road train" is kinda what I'm looking for. I don't necessarily want something restricted to tracks and I probably wouldn't ever do live steam just for the engineering factor involved in it. If I went more realistic, it would likely be a CP Huntington from Chance Morgan. Although, I'd have to win the lottery and do it as a hobby because those cost dear.

As far as a local park train, there's no such animal around these parts. There used to be but it closed down a long time ago. Sad really. :(
 

brakie

Active Member
There's a fella that does have a rubber wheel train that he takes around to various street fairs/festivals..The whole shebang fits on a 16' flat trailer that looks like it was made from a boat trailer.
So,yeah,if a man has the time needed he could make a few bucks but,he would need to be committed for such business and willing to travel to various community activities after contacting the festival committees to get accepted as a vendor...A vendors license would be needed as well as the vendor's fee at the community activity..
 

CCT70

Member
This is likely a lot more complicated than you're looking to do, but just for grins, here's some photos of Union Pacific's corporate "Mini-train" that they take to fairs, parades, company shindigs, etc. These were taken in August in Reno Nevada, where the Western Pacific RR Museum had a booth as an official sponsor of "Hot August Nights" car show. The President of the Feather River Rail Society (WPRM), Rod McClure, is part of the Steam Crew for UP, and one of his responsibilities with the Steam crew is driver of the Mini-Train's custom built Racecar Hauler, toting the Mini-Train all over the UP system. Him and Reed Jackson with the Steam Crew were on their way through town to Roseville, CA for a a Family Days event, so, we talked them into making an unscheduled stop in Reno for a couple of hours, much to the delight of the gear heads at Hot August Nights. They BEGGED us to cruise the Mini-Train with all of the Hot Rods around the event, but, they had places to go and things to do. Next year though, we are looking to have it at HAN all week.

We only pulled the engine out, the entire train has a boxcar, gondola (that carries passengers), a Hopper (also carries passengers), a tank car and a wide vision caboose with marker lamps. BEAUTIFUL little train. The engine is built on an old tow-motor (baggage) chassis. It was out just long enough so that I could give the engine a sponge bath and for folks to take photos, and back in she went to head to Roseville. It was the talk of the area at the rest of the show. The gear heads really enjoyed it.

Enjoy the photos.

photo2.jpg


photo5.jpg


photo3.jpg


photo6.jpg


minitraintieddown.jpg
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
There's a fella that does have a rubber wheel train that he takes around to various street fairs/festivals..The whole shebang fits on a 16' flat trailer that looks like it was made from a boat trailer.
So,yeah,if a man has the time needed he could make a few bucks but,he would need to be committed for such business and willing to travel to various community activities after contacting the festival committees to get accepted as a vendor...A vendors license would be needed as well as the vendor's fee at the community activity..

I've got no problems with running around to the local festivals. That was the idea behind this. ;)

Didn't think of the vendor's license either.

OK... so now we've got insurance and licensing along with maintenance.
 

Cannonball

More Trains Than Brains
This is likely a lot more complicated than you're looking to do, but just for grins, here's some photos of Union Pacific's corporate "Mini-train" that they take to fairs, parades, company shindigs, etc. These were taken in August in Reno Nevada, where the Western Pacific RR Museum had a booth as an official sponsor of "Hot August Nights" car show. The President of the Feather River Rail Society (WPRM), Rod McClure, is part of the Steam Crew for UP, and one of his responsibilities with the Steam crew is driver of the Mini-Train's custom built Racecar Hauler, toting the Mini-Train all over the UP system. Him and Reed Jackson with the Steam Crew were on their way through town to Roseville, CA for a a Family Days event, so, we talked them into making an unscheduled stop in Reno for a couple of hours, much to the delight of the gear heads at Hot August Nights. They BEGGED us to cruise the Mini-Train with all of the Hot Rods around the event, but, they had places to go and things to do. Next year though, we are looking to have it at HAN all week.

We only pulled the engine out, the entire train has a boxcar, gondola (that carries passengers), a Hopper (also carries passengers), a tank car and a wide vision caboose with marker lamps. BEAUTIFUL little train. The engine is built on an old tow-motor (baggage) chassis. It was out just long enough so that I could give the engine a sponge bath and for folks to take photos, and back in she went to head to Roseville. It was the talk of the area at the rest of the show. The gear heads really enjoyed it.

Cool. Now I want one of those too. :cool: :D
 

CCT70

Member
Liability insurance for things like that really seem like a headache, BUT, it is worth it in the end. Alicia and I do Old West Gunfighter shows, and to see the looks on little kids faces, especially when the museum has the Mini Train at one of their events, is worth ALL the hassle. I say go for it!
 
Top