Re: Late August, 2015 - Special Trains, Bearings, etc. ...

pd3463 Wrote:
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> Has it been noticed that rail feet (sic) is only a few
> days later on the D&S? Accidental or intentional?

KevinM Replied:
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> Based on the posts from Chama Steam's Face-
> book page, it was absolutely intentional, and a
> smart marketing move for both railroads.  Each
> can potentially take advantage of the traffic
> traveling to visit the other.  I wish more rail-
> roads and charter operators would collaborate
> in this fashion.  If I were going to drop a bundle
> on airfare, I would prefer to have good reasons
> to stay a while when I get there.

pd3463 Continued:
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> That was my point. In 2010, that is basically what
> both roads did with SLRG adding a one day in be-
> tween event. I thought it was brilliant & have been
> disappointed it hasn't been repeated.  Sorry for
> the sarcasm. I've just always thought 2010 was
> great for everyone. For those of us that travel a
> long way we were able to do a lot of mountain
> railroading in one trip.

Great(?) Minds Think Alike!
See "Rocky Mountain Railroad Madness" (2010 Version) - starting at [ngdiscussion.net] - and also [ngdiscussion.net] ...

KevinM {also} Wrote:
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> One suggestion that I have is that the trips be
> announced just a little further out to enable
> folks to make the most affordable travel arrange-
> ments. When I read about this particular trip
> a few days ago, I did a frantic search for air-
> fares and couldn't find anything less than $800
> from my home in New England. When I looked
> further out into September, I could fly to ABQ for
> $330, which is pretty darn cheap! Once you get
> inside 30-40 days of the projected travel date,
> there are just no deals to be had.  The planes
> are too full these days.

trainrider47 {Michael Allen} Wrote:
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> I agree with Kevin though, announce these things
> at least two months out. I've always found the
> best air fares to be in the 6 - 8 week out range.

Mr. Ed Wrote:
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> I'd agree that a bit more advance notice could
> have been helpful. As it is, I'll be making my
> trek to Chama next weekend, but had I known
> of the August specials, I'd have forked over
> the extra $$ and planned for later. It's not an
> option for me to do both, and it's too late now
> to reschedule without numerous penalties.  It
> certainly sounds like a great two days of fun
> and I hope it offered again.


Kevin, Phil, Michael, Ed et al -

Based on all of the above, IMHO the time to start planning for late August, 2015, is NOW!   I see on the new 2015 calendar from The Friends that there will be a full moon on Saturday, August 29, - and since Yvonne has indicated that next year's D&S Railfest is currently planned for August 20th through the 23rd - then Wednesday & Thursday, August 26 & 27 (or 27 & 28) would be a great time for couple of special freights on the C&TS (maybe with the westbound one not leaving Antonito until around 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. and meeting the regular eastbound passenger train at Lava Siding).   If there's the usual moonlight dinner train / wine tasting train on the evening of August 29th, more than a few of us would probably stick around and make it a three- or four-day extravaganza ...    

The last weekend of August is usually one of the deadest of the entire year, so crew availability should be less of a problem than at other times, making it a great time for us fans to give the C&TS a bit of a boost, and this ties in well with The Friends' tank car bearing project that John Cole has been promoting - see [ngdiscussion.net] and [ngdiscussion.net].

- El Abuelo Histœrico, Greengo y Curmudgeoño de los Locomoturas Viejos y Verdes,
aka Der Grossväterlich DünkelOlivGrünDampfKesselMantelLiebHabender



Edited 8 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2014 11:40PM by Russo Loco.