Re: Is there a future for steam tourist railroads? II

I believe that cab rides can be made safe and legal on the tourist lines. I remember a story that I may have seen on this forum that happen at Chama. It was a case of two people looking longly at the cab of one of the K-36s, one was an adult and another a kid. The Engineer ask the kid to hop on board. With a grin the kid climb on where they went up the yard and kid was let off. Afterward the Engineer was approached by the adult and asked why didn't he let him have a cab ride. The Engineer's response was you (the adult) have memories and this will be the kid's first and may have to last a lifetime. Yes, the kid could have been hurt but do we want a world where there is no risk? I don't but if you do, please stay at home (and remember that most accidents happen in the bathroom). Thing to do is to limit the liablilities so you don't get the line closed down and I believe that this can be done without make every place not accessable (though that is the easiest way).

One of my concerns about the "no cab ride" is that it is only a little step to say no one in the yard at Chama and now we have Durango. Being able to go and shoot photos around the yard is one of the great charms of Chama. We need to view cab rides and access to the yard as PR for the tourist lines. I will ride the C&TSRR over Durango (and have) just because of the more "friendly" envirnoment.

Phil