Diesel Passenger Operations On The D&S During Jan 2018

Checking out the winter schedule for Jan 2018 I noticed that about half of the Cascade Canyon trips are going to be diesel powered. No diesel trips are scheduled during the rest of the season so the railroad is probably waiting to see what the results are going to be. I personally cornered Al on a train several months ago when he mentioned the idea of
diesel operated trains . I told him that the D&S represented the gold standard of tourist railroads and that he was diluting that standard. Providing steam is an adventure into the past, into the myths of the American West. A diesel trip is a very expensive ride into the woods.
Al was polite and showed some teeth (smile? grimace? snarl? about to bite me?) and after about five minutes it was apparent that I was losing him and I thanked him for listening and he moved along.
So obviously my foamer opinion had no response. Its his railroad and he can run it anyway he wants to but obviously this is a huge disappointment.
Charles Bradshaw, circa 1982 : "This railroad will NEVER run a diesel powered train"
I guess things change.


Husker Hank
Durango CO