another blast from the CATS past, '74 brochure

I'm sorting papers, some of which came from my late Mother's house a decade ago, and amidst the Jr High & grade school report cards I came upon yet another old flyer, of the type found in racks at motels, etc., this one titled/dated "Preview Brochure 1974" but I suspect it may have gone out in lieu of a 1974 brochure that they couldn't afford to print early in the season. I suspect this because, stamped in red ink on the front of the otherwise sorta brown on yellow brochure, is the following:

"Business conditions have forced a substantial reduction in days of operation. To avoid disappointment, obtain firm reservations before traveling to the C & TS RR this year."

So was this a brochure printed for Fall/winter before the Opec Embargo (September of '73) and then repurposed for the next Summer? Summer of '74 we'd have (probably) been going thru Colorado in July or early August.

A few notes of interest: Engines 483 & 484 are the only ones to be pictured. There is a picture of the stop at Osier, everybody outdoors at picnic tables, with a note that meals aren't included in ticket prices. Prices, btw, were Adults $14.50, Children (11 and under) $5.00. Also there is a picture of the scenery of La Manga showing the buses.

The schedule (see note above!) featured trains operating May 24 through October 14. All were to be "One way by train - One way by bus." No trains were to be run on Thursdays and trains on Tuesday and Wednesday were notated as "In July and August only!". Trains left Antonito at 8: AM Sun,Tue,Fri and arrived back at 4:30 PM and at left 10 AM Mon, Wed, Sat, arriving back at 6:15 PM. Departures & arrivals from/to Chama are for the same times with the days flipped. note says that 8 AM trips ride bus before the train, 10 AM ride it after the train trip. So they were only planning, at printing time, to run one train one way each day(except Thur) - if I'm reading this right.

Ticket office in Chama open 9 -5 weekdays year round + train days. In Antonito, only open train days.
Phone # and mailing address, but no website listed.

Hank



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/2020 12:17PM by hank.