Folks,
Just to clarify a couple of things....
On the HTP Charter last week, there was only one traditional run-by when we ran the two-engine freight to Cumbres Pass. That run-by was at Hamilton's Point. The charter organizers and the railroad determined that backing the train up (setting and releasing brake retainers) was going to consume way too much time, so the plan was to run to Cumbres with stop for water at Cresco and a single back-up and run-by at Hamilton's. Otherwise, the train would run straight through. No one but the crew was on the train. Charter patrons were organized into car pools, and were given suggestions for places to stop and shoot. Each car pool decided where their individual photo lines would be established. The Conductor rode with the charter organizers in the car pool so as to provide communications with the train. Permission was granted to shoot in a couple of places that would have otherwise been inaccessible to the public, including one private residence. The crew was asked to slow the train down at several strategic points, to allow charter participants to be able to keep up with the train by driving in a safe and courteous manner.
I hope that provides just a bit of insight as to what the plan was for the Cumbres run....or runs actually. We ran two cuts of cars to Cumbres. One in the morning, and another in the afternoon.
/Kevin