Originally Posted By OdorFree Simulated steam engines would be just fine. Only a few steam geeks really care about this matter.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< the engineer was getting close to retirement and was obviously frustrated that Disney wouldn't let them (Trains) have staffing budget to apprentice anyone. He kept shaking his head and saying, "I don't know what Disney is going to do..." >>> This is a looming problem that American industry is going to be facing big-time as time goes on. Especially with the economic contraction that started in 2008, it became quite easy for companies to dump internal training and apprenticeship positions. After all, when there's high unemployment and several people vying for every available job, there's a much lesser need for on-the-job training or apprenticeships. In such a situation, attrition due to retirement or other reasons can easily be filled just by hiring experienced people from the unemployed work force - no need to spend money on internal programs and apprenticeships. Publicly-traded companies that were under the gun during the recession to Increase Shareholder Value despite the economic situation found an easy target: eliminate training and apprenticeships wherever possible. That's all well and good, at least for awhile. But what happens once the reservoir of existing experienced talent is exhausted? You can get yourself in a situation where you have strong wage inflation for certain positions out of necessity to attract whatever remaining talent there is. Re-establishing the prior training and apprenticeship programs may be cost-prohibitive, especially when the cost savings that resulted form their prior elimination where quickly gobbled up by unrelated economic factors that can't be undone. It can create an impossible situation. For something like Disney park steam trains, it may not be that important on a national scale. It may not even be driving the current alleged/threatened conversion at WDW - but if it's not and the current driver was somehow overcome, it certainly would in a few years' time. On a national scale, this phenomenon is most definitely an issue. As the current excess skilled labor force is eventually exhausted due to retirement and other attrition, where will the next generation of skilled workers come from, now that the traditional supply line from OTJ training / apprenticeship has been drastically cut? The solution of just increasing wages doesn't work, as each increase in wages makes off-shoring more attractive. And no particular company wants to take on the burden of training when nobody else is. I think this is one of the many challenges that the American economy will face as it tries to maintain global predominance.
Originally Posted By skinnerbox From my email inbox this morning: To: Members of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society From: Michael Broggie While our Society doesn't engage in rumors, lately there's been a flurry of misinformation and assumptions surrounding the possible conversion to Diesel-hydraulic, or the replacement, of the vintage Baldwin steam engines at Walt Disney World. This message is to inform our members that this is not going to happen, now or for the foreseeable future. Please share this information with anyone who values Walt's legacy of preserving America's steam railroad history. Thank you. Michael Broggie Carolwood Pacific Historical Society There ya go. Rumor dispelled.
Originally Posted By hopemax Well, I'm a little more cynical. Michael's letter doesn't really address if Disney considered it. It just says its not happening, which could either be because they never were considering it OR because they did consider it but ultimately deemed it "unfeasible at this time." Since I'm also a cynic, I kinda feel that if Disney were to attempt it, Michael would be the first one to say "over my dead body," but he won't be around forever, and in the future will there be anyone with a voice that "matters" take up a potential fight. But I'm glad it's not happening now or in the near future.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt And because I'm a cynic my first thought was that some fan with an ax to grind with management decided to get folks riled up over nothing.
