Ken in Buena Vista Wrote:
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> I understand all of the comments being made about
> this topic. I am not sure if I agree with the
> idea that another tourist train could not make it.
> Railfans go to destinations with the idea of
> riding a specific train, and other tourists go to
> an area and participate in what is available. You
> would be surprized at how many people come to
> Buena Vista, and then ask what there is to see
> (not knowing about the Hot Springs, ghost town of
> St Elmo, micro brewery, horseback riding, lake
> fishing, occassional dances and live theatre . .
> .). As we are talking about what the Union
> Pacific would do or what is in it for them, they
> negotiated with the CC&RG and RRRR, so they lease
> or sell off the rail but maintain the rights to
> use the track. I think the bigger question which
> no one seems to mention is that the SLRG was in
> attendence for this meeting. What is the SLRG's
> goal or intention.
Ken:
Are you aware of the tourist lines that did not make it?
1. There was one from Colorado Springs to Limon that did not make it.
2. The one from Laramine, Wyoming to Walden, Colroado that did not make it.
3. The Great Western RR tried tourist trains out of Loveland.
Railfans will ride anything with flanged wheels, but average family guy with a wife and kids has limited interest in things railroad. This thing would make three tourst railroads between Pueblo and Leadville. Just how many do you think the average family is going to utilize?
If these guys have the bucks to do this I guess it will get done. But at what impact on the other tourist lines. All of these things were started with the idea of being another Durango & Silverton, but how many of them (including the C&TS) are barely hanging on?
I find it interesting that Buena Vista, Salida and many other Colorado towns did nothing to keep passenger service when they had it.
Jerry Day