Re: But what are we Celebrating?

John West Wrote:
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> Seems to me Russ is raising a good point. Maybe I
> have missed something, but I do not recall any
> signicant event over the years that celebrated the
> contribution of the "volunteers" that got the
> whole thing started. And those folks are not
> getting any younger. The major events this year
> seem entirely focused on entertaining the pols who
> hold the purse strings now.
>
> JBWX

Well lets see....40 years ago would have been 1 operational engine(483)
in movie train garb, and the only trains running would have been the equipment moves from Antonito to Chama. Not really what I call "Grande" stuff to recreate. I think the fact that they are willing to repaint an engine to represent the 483 in this paint scheme(as ugly as it was), says something about their commitment at least. Yes it seems somewhat political, but guess what, thats where the cash comes from and the states own the railroad.
While I see the point about recognizing the volunteers, most of us in the hobby who know the situation know that it was a lot of like-minded fans and others who saved the railroad and spent their time volunteering in those early days, much like the "FRIENDS" do today. It is a relatively thankless job that does largely go unnoticed except for those in the know.
Continuing my largely positive take on this weekend thing, I was struck by how "Fan Friendly" the trips seemed to be, catering to runbys and multiple trains. The 483 freights with switching sounded "Different" and the prices were not too crazy high like on some trips.
My only concern with these freights is that they will house all the riders thus ruining the pure freight consists, which(end cars)are easily cut out by still photographers, but video does not lie!!!
Given all the D&S trips, the Rio Grande Scenic, and the C&TS trips over this 10 day span(not to mention the Wagon Wheel Gap folks), my head is spinning with all the stuff going on.
My wife says I would be better off waiting until the fall colors without all the crazy fans everywhere, and just do the normal trains.
One other thing that is overlooked in all this is the importance of engine 484. The first really full year of operation was 1971 and both 483 and 484 were operational at the start of the season. In fact 484 was the first engine to be entirely painted in the new C&TS scheme with the logo on the tender. So it could be thought of as the FIRST complete C&TS engine. I guess my point is that 484 shares some importance with 483, and we don't have to repaint another engine to get 484 today!
In a nut shell I see what they are doing as pretty positive, and something that will likely give them some good press and renewed interest in the railroad to all the big shots in the states, as well as provide some railfan trips for the foamers.
Greg Scholl