Re: Special Paint will hopefully attract more riders

Tom -

One of the operators of a planned fall excursion in 2010 has already contacted me via p.m. in support of the '#489 Season in Green' concept, presuming that having the engine a bit different will help attract riders if the engine remains green for his charter in October. It is rumored that Soni was planning to adorn one engine with a green jacket next year anyway, and some of us are hoping that by helping to pay for it, he will be encouraged to do so - and in an historically correct way.

IMHO, unique paint schemes attract additional riders - and income - far in excess of the cost of the paint: witness what happened on the D&S when the Bumblebee paint was applied to a K-28 a few years ago, and the popularity of this engine with her various semi-historic (to the D&RGW, if not to K-28's) and non-historic (too bright) green colors.

In other words, rather than simply donating the $1,000 I'm committed to so far, I'm hoping to leverage it to ten times that value by helping attract more riders to the C&TS, and ones who will stay longer in Chama and Antonito to chase and photograph the unique color scheme.

If Jay and other charter operators benefit from my donation by having more riders, then the railroad benefits from having more income and Roger et al benefit from having more guests and Charlatte's & Foster's etc. benefit by serving more meals, etc. etc. etc.

It's an INVESTMENT, not a frivolous extravagance.

- Russ