Re: X-treme X-mas Loco = MERRY CHRISTMAS!! ...

My mistake, Greg--sorry.

You make a good point that the "media event," whatever it is, needs to feature real people riding a real train. Running the rotary for the sake of just the media will get no long-term traction with Joe Six-Pack and his family; it would be just a curiosity.

I think the Lobato trestle opening is a great idea, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center of the trestle or smashing a bottle of champagne on a girder, or whatever. Invite either/both governors, elected state officials throughout the region, mayors and councils of Antonito and Chama, and whomever else might be writing checks to the C&TS in the future or is affected by the C&TS. How about free trains for the residents of Chama and Antonito to ride out to the trestle, giving you the real trains with real people. Yes, even the SHPOs and the respective state historical societies (including even--gasp--the Colorado Historical Society d.b.s. History Colorado). Hype the heck out of the event, and it might even get picked up on the national news.

Mike