State owned-blessing or a curse?

It's almost crazy how members here go back and forth about how it should be on the C&TS, because the point almost never comes up about the D&S and what it should be doing to preserve history. Just because we have "The Friends" doesn't mean they can't be given the axe. It has happened before to over zealous foamers. I sometimes wonder what the little RR would be like if it was bought out, and no longer owned by the states. Would it be fenced like it's sister? Probably. I'm not sure if specials would be run anymore either. Name? Whatever they wanted to call it! We have it made, in such we can argue about should this equipment be lettered as such or this? I really feel the RR has missed the boat when it comes to teaching about it's history. There is still to this day, no center or place to go that teaches the public about it's history. The non-railfan isn't going to walk halfway across Chama to read up/learn about the train that their going to ride! We scream don't put it there or over there because it will ruin the photo's! Well what about the tin building that was in the parking lot? I guess it's OK to ruin those photo's because the RR needed the parking space, but Lord have mercy if we want the riders to actually know and hopefully remember a little about their experience in Chama! I don't hear people screaming about what the D&S did to upgrade the line, but Lord have mercy if the C&TS uses real ballast! It's almost like everytime the C&TS makes a move towards getting real butts in the seats, someone has a cow! I'm sorry but if there isn't enough support structures to help the RR in Chama, it really doesn't matter what it's called or what color the equipment is painted. It will be forever known as "What was that train ride we took that ONE year?" The C&TS doesn't have the marketing or the popularity as the D&S, so when people try to remember later on where they went, chances are it will end up being Durango-not Chama.





David