"Procedural" Challenges

The discussion of silver trim is really the tip of the iceberg. For years historic accuracy was not an issue because the C&TS was awash in historic accuracy. It was taken for granted. But as time passes more and more gets changed, people change, the C&TS more and more adapts to its new role and identity as a tourist attraction, and the DRGW heritage gets increasingly dimmer, bit by bit.

The issue is now preservation management. The C&TS has reached the point where its historic heritage needs to be managed, not taken for granted, not just assumed it will always be there. Because it won't. The C&TS is a working railroad and over time, left to its own devices, it will adapt completely to its new role as a tourist attraction.

The time has come when the Commission, the Friends, and the operator need to agree upon and formally memorialize some goals and a plan on how to deal with historic preservation, interpretation, and the conflicts and synergies with a working tourist railroad.

The outcome of such an effort is far from clear, because some folks really don't care about history and authenticity. They would be satisfied with a Disneyland ride if it ads to the local economy. But there are also good cultural and education arguments in favor of the importance of historic preservation, and even good arguments in terms of how it can help marketing the tourist railroad and increasing revenue.

We have reached the point where some decisions need to be made at the highest level, or historic preservation will loose by default.

JBWX



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2008 01:09PM by John West.