We were informed today the the Town of La Veta is canceling the agreement they have with the SLRG to provide water for our steam locomotive. Reasons given for this is a local state water commissioner has determined the water source we are using can be used for "agricultural purposes only".
Two important points here:
The water source in question is known locally as the "raw water well". This well was created in about 1877 by the D&RGRy and was used to water steam locomotives from 1877 until 1956. In 1958 the D&RGW saw no more need for this well and sold/gave it to the town of La Veta. The only use La Veta has for it is to water the city park and the little league baseball field.
The water commissioner is the former mayor of La Veta, who after being removed from office went to work for the State of CO. Since then he has made life difficult for the town including forbidding the own from using a nearby lake - which the town has legal water rights to - for domestic use.
The town of La Veta says it will take up the matter at thier next council meeting, which is a week from today.
Which leaves us with what to do this weekend.
The SLRG is going to, at thier own expense, fit up a tank car to haul water to La Veta. The car will be moved in regular freight trains - which are already being run at maximum tonnage - and set out be the freight train crew which are already pushing the Federal Hours of Service laws in thier present duties. We will have to buy pumps, hoses etc. but we WILL RUN.
The possibilty of running to Walsenburg if La Veta doesn't answer to the call has been brought up. The current dificulties with that are lack of turning facilities there, and the fact that the Union Pacific still owns the last 5 miles of railroad into Walsenburg. And we all know how receptive the UP is to allowing foriegn steam locomotives on thier railroad.
We can always hope the cooler heads will prevail and the town will allow us to return to using a fire hydrant connected to the domestic water system. But having lived in this part of the country as long as I have, seldom have I seen the "cooler heads" prevail over the "petty jealousies and personal vendetta gang". I don't have an address to write to in La Veta handy, or I'd post it.
I'll pass on more as I hear it.
