Hello, everybody -
First, let me state yet again that your help in tracking down the volunteers who - during the late
Spring and the Summer of 1970 cleared and rebuilt the railroad over Cumbres Pass is MUCH
appreciated by all concerned.
There seems to be some contention as to who deserves credit for what, so here is - IIRC - how
the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the C&TS RR came about.
In 2004 I visited Chama for the first time in many years. The subject of a 40th Anniversary Celebration of the First C&TS Train in Chama came up during the same conversation with Roger Hogan that resulted in Volume I of the "Help Save #483" Screen Saver, but the earliest NGDF posts that I can find mentioning the 40th Anniversary are my own of September 19, 2005 and March 28, 2007 - see [
ngdiscussion.net] and [
ngdiscussion.net], respectively. The latter includes the following plea:
"
Restore #483 and re-create the first C&TS train! (Gold-and-Maroon paint optional, per 9/6/70 ...) Run a photo-freight (or two, or three)!! Invite the Geese - and RGS #20!!! Have an evening dinner train to Osier!!!!
PLEASE, some of you who are much closer to the action than I am, DO SOMETHING!!!!!" But, other than three or four people responding to this second post, nobody did
...
FINALLY, during a conversation I had with Alan Loomis in Jay's shop in September, 2008, something clicked with someone who could do something. Alan instantly recognized the marketing potential of the concept, and apparently mentioned it to Soni - who also bought in immediately.
By late August, 2009, Roger had been asked to prepare a preliminary poster. It seems that he used one of my photos as the basis for his design - see 2nd photo on [
ngdiscussion.net] and then see [
ngdiscussion.net]. Being an artistic rendering, the colors are slightly brighter than in my photo, but his rendition of #483 in the gaudy movie makeup that she wore from late 1968 through 1970 is otherwise very accurate and historically correct.
During September, 2009, I was able to meet briefly with Alan & Soni, and discuss some of the details of the planned Celebration, which they agreed should include - as a tribute to the Summer of 1970 Volunteers - a re-enactment of #483
pulling pushing the First C&TS Train into Chama on 09/06/70. Soni even suggested placing some lightweight fake rocks on the tracks in The Narrows to enhance the realism of the re-enactment of the volunteers clearing the line and straightening & repairing the rails.
A week or so later, Olaf Rasmussen and I split the cost of a ticket so that our old friend Ernie Robart could join us on the Sept. 27 "ferry move" of #315 from Antonito to Chama. Only half joking, I told Ernie that this was a bribe to ensure that he would accept my previous invitation to give a presentation and slide show on the early history of the C&TS during the 40th Anniversary Celebration. Before heading home, I booked several rooms at THE (Shamrock) HOTEL to ensure that Ernie and (hopefully) Terry Ross, some musician friends and my daughter Cindy (Jackelopette) would have a place to stay during the festivities a year or so later.
Unfortunately, Alan Loomis was not employed by the C&TS during the winter months, and Soni Honneger resigned at the beginning of the year. During the ensuing chaos, Gayle Martinez took over planning of the 40th Anniversary Celebration, and she completely dropped the ball - at least insofar as a Tribute to the Summer of Seventy Volunteers is concerned.
Fortunately, Alan Loomis read my post on the NGDF that resulted from learning of Gayle's outrageous oversight, and telephoned me within hours to repair the damage and ensure that the re-enactment train WOULD operate. Even though technically not yet re-employed, Alan began preliminary arrangements for the Tribute Train on August 30th. I agreed to charter this train, and to make a down-payment for the charter a.s.a.p. - thus giving Alan full control over its planning and execution and keeping Gayle out of the picture. (As of July 4, including my down-payment and purchase of some extra tickets plus pledges of ticket purchases and outright donations, we are about halfway there toward making the Tribute Train a reality.)
Because of the turmoil and uncertainty resulting from Soni's untimely resignation, planning for the Tribute Train had been on the back burner for a month or so longer than it probably should have. And just as Alan & I had finalized our plans - and while the contract was in the mail - the disastrous fire occurred at Lobato Trestle
...
Meanwhile, I have received the preliminary list (above) from Ernie Robart and Terry Ross giving the names of those who helped significantly with the rescue and restoration of the railroad over the summer of 1970. (Note that I put in almost two whole day's effort, and my name isn't on their list.) As mentioned above, this is only a preliminary list, and already several others who helped significantly in September and October 1970 have been identified. Unfortunately, several of those whose names are listed have passed on before their contributions could be recognized; others whose whereabouts are known are also listed in small italic type. But we still need help finding those whose names are listed in boldface type, and identifying others who were significantly involved.
I have been accused of trying to take credit for Ernie and Terry's documentation of the effort during the Summer of 1970 - nothing could be farther from the truth. I have invited Ernie - and begged him to bring Terry along if he can - to give a presentation and slide show on the early days of the railroad, and am even paying for his/their room at The Hotel so that he/they can be there. Every single time that I have posted one of Ernie's photos on the NGDF I have given him credit for it, and I have always noted my extensive reliance on the book he co-authored with Joseph P. Harrington, '
Rio Grande Narrow Gauge - The Final Years, Alamosa to Chama' and recommended its purchase to all serious fans of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.
According to reports from friends, I have been called 'A Wild-Eyed Foamer from California' on another site as a result of my efforts to sponsor unlikely fan trips and to support the C&TS. While it's true that I'm an outsider in the sense that I don't reside in Chama, I don't feel like an outsider when it comes to the railroad. But the real reason I've been pushing for a 40th Anniversary Celebration is that - until less than two years ago - nobody else seemed to be willing to do so. Period.
Russell B. Sperry
5357 Basie Street
Ventura, CA 93003
805 / 642 - 9676
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2010 07:22PM by Russo Loco.
