Re: C&TSRR 40th B.D. - Come One, Come All ... up to a point

Hi, Cole et al -

IIRC, the details have been posted elsewhere so I'll just sum it up here:

The train of 09/06/70 consisted of #483 & tender, three boxcars, two gondolas
(partly filled with ballast IIRC), and caboose 0503.   Here's Ernie's photo taken
just before departure from Cumbres Pass:


At Lobato some switching was done to put the ballast and tool cars ahead of the engine - the last photo on my last roll of film:


The train then proceeded through The Narrows, where Ernie photographed the track crew (a few paid, apparently, but most not) doing a final clearing and leveling of the track, while several townspeople and fans looked on:


In order to approximate the original train on 08/30/10 but still allow room for passengers - and relatively easy on-and-off access - the boxcars are being replaced by a concession car with steps and two rider boxcars, and one of the gondolas is being replaced with a rider gon. Caboose 0503 has been extensively rebuilt, and will hopefully be available for the re-enactment train. The total seats available are thus 30 + 30 + 12 under roof, and another twenty or so in the rider gon for those willing to take a chance on getting soaked by a thunderstorm.  My down-payment includes several tickets for use as compensation to others who will be helping out with the festivities, so there are approximately 85 seats still available, but - unless there are significant outright donations by non-riders - forty of these must be sold to sponsoring riders to pay for the train, leaving about 45 open for the Volunteers. This should be enough, unless there were a lot more of them than have been identified so far - even if everyone who is invited shows up. If fewer Volunteers accept invitations, then there will be more tickets available for sale, and I may even get a little of my money back from the train to help pay for Ernie's, Terry's and (hopefully) a couple of musicians' rooms that I've reserved at THE (Shamrock) HOTEL.   (Please see [ngdiscussion.net] for the latest info on our search for The Volunteers.)

- Russ