Re: Park don't fight
| March 13, 2019 03:58PM |
For those of you who had such a great time playing in the snow and feel guilty about accepting a partial refund from D&SNG, please consider donating that refund to the Galloping Goose Historical Society (GGHS) or another volunteer railroad-oriented organization. It is found money that can serve a greater purpose.
This is the third year that GGHS operated RGS Goose No. 5 as part of the D&SNG Winter Photographer's Special. In years past, RGS Goose No. 5 always completed its full excursion schedule and managed to earn a small profit along the way. This year after SP 18's run to Rockwood, weather forced the railroad was shut down for eight days. This was the prudent thing. Rescuing a stalled train caught on the wrong side of a snow slide in the Animas River Canyon is possibility to be avoided. Closing the railroad also canceled the second weekend of excursions scheduled with RGS Goose No. 5. Revenue from this second weekend of excursions was expected to make GGHS's participation in the Photographer's Special financially viable.
Our contract with D&SNG specifies that GGHS share in ticket revenue after railroad excursions expenses. It is a very fair contract and similar to agreements GGHS has had with host railroads for the last twenty years. But just like the railroads, GGHS has fixed excursion expenses it incurs that are not covered by the contract. Our share of ticket revenue must fully cover the cost of "Goose" maintenance, operating insurance, and transport before we break even. These expenses are incurred regardless of success or failure of ticket sales. Our organization understands the financial risks in running excursions and understands the possibly of adverse outcomes. Our eyes are "wide open" when we commit to running excursions.
Most railfans do not appreciate the time and upfront money needed for an organization to operate excursions. From a business standpoint, the financial margins are too small to justify operating excursions. The Galloping Goose can only carry 27 passengers a trip, not a whole lot of ticket sales ot revenue. We request that the railroads price our tickets at less than their first class tickets. We try to keep our ticket prices within reason. We consider operating excursions as part of our mission as a not-for-profit and not a source for revenue. Our motorman and crew, like most volunteer crew, are not, in any way compensated for their expenses. They incur over one thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses every time they volunteer to operate on a host railroad. Yes, they are compensated in once in a lifetime experiences, like motoring RGS Goose No. 5 in snowy conditions on D&SNG or motoring through spectacular Autumn colors on C&TS, but its still time and money out of their pockets for others to benefit.
GGHS recently established an endowment to help serve as a "rainy day" fund (in this case, a "snowy day" fund) to help mitigate the risk of unexpected excursion outcomes. Unfortunately, this endowment is only three months old and needs to grow before it can provide revenue. Luckily, the D&SNG has committed to rescheduling the cancelled winter excursions and GGHS may be able to recoup their excursion losses.
I encourage railfans to buy tickets later this year to support our efforts. Riding "the Goose" is only way to get "an over the motorman's shoulder view" of both the C&TS and D&SNG railroads. It is a unique experience!
Joe Becker
President
Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores Inc.
This is the third year that GGHS operated RGS Goose No. 5 as part of the D&SNG Winter Photographer's Special. In years past, RGS Goose No. 5 always completed its full excursion schedule and managed to earn a small profit along the way. This year after SP 18's run to Rockwood, weather forced the railroad was shut down for eight days. This was the prudent thing. Rescuing a stalled train caught on the wrong side of a snow slide in the Animas River Canyon is possibility to be avoided. Closing the railroad also canceled the second weekend of excursions scheduled with RGS Goose No. 5. Revenue from this second weekend of excursions was expected to make GGHS's participation in the Photographer's Special financially viable.
Our contract with D&SNG specifies that GGHS share in ticket revenue after railroad excursions expenses. It is a very fair contract and similar to agreements GGHS has had with host railroads for the last twenty years. But just like the railroads, GGHS has fixed excursion expenses it incurs that are not covered by the contract. Our share of ticket revenue must fully cover the cost of "Goose" maintenance, operating insurance, and transport before we break even. These expenses are incurred regardless of success or failure of ticket sales. Our organization understands the financial risks in running excursions and understands the possibly of adverse outcomes. Our eyes are "wide open" when we commit to running excursions.
Most railfans do not appreciate the time and upfront money needed for an organization to operate excursions. From a business standpoint, the financial margins are too small to justify operating excursions. The Galloping Goose can only carry 27 passengers a trip, not a whole lot of ticket sales ot revenue. We request that the railroads price our tickets at less than their first class tickets. We try to keep our ticket prices within reason. We consider operating excursions as part of our mission as a not-for-profit and not a source for revenue. Our motorman and crew, like most volunteer crew, are not, in any way compensated for their expenses. They incur over one thousand dollars in out-of-pocket expenses every time they volunteer to operate on a host railroad. Yes, they are compensated in once in a lifetime experiences, like motoring RGS Goose No. 5 in snowy conditions on D&SNG or motoring through spectacular Autumn colors on C&TS, but its still time and money out of their pockets for others to benefit.
GGHS recently established an endowment to help serve as a "rainy day" fund (in this case, a "snowy day" fund) to help mitigate the risk of unexpected excursion outcomes. Unfortunately, this endowment is only three months old and needs to grow before it can provide revenue. Luckily, the D&SNG has committed to rescheduling the cancelled winter excursions and GGHS may be able to recoup their excursion losses.
I encourage railfans to buy tickets later this year to support our efforts. Riding "the Goose" is only way to get "an over the motorman's shoulder view" of both the C&TS and D&SNG railroads. It is a unique experience!
Joe Becker
President
Galloping Goose Historical Society of Dolores Inc.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.