It is an accepted fact in the tourist railroad business that, with the exception of certain "destination" tourist railroads like the D&S, the average family (notice I didn't say railfan) is interested in an activity lasting about 1-1/2 hours. The Loop fits that nicely; so does the Leadville operation; so does the Royal Gorge. The Gorge is making it because it caters to riders that want to upgrade their experience--they are willing to pay $109/person for the pleasure of having a class dinner served in a dome dinner. The folks who ride the basic coach class are generally found out in the open cars, taking pictures of the most spectacular canyon country outside of the Grand Canyon.
Those in the know say that the UP isn't interested in piecemealing out any more of the Tennessee Pass line. Omaha may not know what it wants to do with Tennessee Pass, but it does know what it
doesn't want to do: letting the BNSF in the door, and selling off more of the line, bit by bit.
As for leasing the line, there isn't a tourist operation in the company that could afford Uncle Pete's insurance requirements.
Lastly, when the UP first filed to abandon the line, the town of Buena Vista just couldn't wait for an opportunity to pull the rails out of the grade crossings within the confines of the town so that they wouldn't have to cope with grade crossings dividing their town. To hell with any future rail-based transportation. Now, they are suddenly whistling a different tune?
Mike