1. Taos Ski Valley is serious terrain and attracts serious skiers. They come to ski not to ride a school bus to go on a train ride.
2. Toas is a destination resort. All but the local day skiers are there on a "ski week" with their lodging and lifts pre-paid. Why would they forgo a day's lift ticket that they've already purchased?
3. What exactly would be appealing about this ride for non railfans, especially the skiers already treated to the views from Kachina Peak at Toas?
4. How would passengers (all 5 of them) be evacuated in the event of a mechanical break-down of the Pineapple or worse, a derailment up around 9,000' in elevation? How long would it take to fire up an engine and assemble a rescue train and arrive on site?
5. Here's my suggestion for a safe and prudent winter revenue venture: Crank up the fire engine in Chama and load it up with any cash left in the safe. Drive it to the RGRPC' bank of choice and dump it into a six month C.D.
Sarducci