Here we go again....
People getting all upset. Please consider the following..... I am going to suggest heresy.
I don't post here often because my interest is largely the really old ng stuff, but I do lurk here regularily and have seen numerous of these battles breakout ending when someone gets so offended they leave the list vowing never to return.
I understand that Colorado/New Mexico are like Mecca to us North American NG foamers and that the remaining equipment are our touch stones.
12 years ago I tryed to get a tourist line running up here in Southern Ontario where I live. I did the research, found the equipment, created a business plan.... all that stuff. While doing my market research I found that as I recall less then half cared if the train was pulled by steam. Life changes forced the abdonment of the plan.
Has anyone done this kind of research on the riders of the C&TS? I am going to suggest that my research would probably hold up. I can't believe that most of the riders are foamers like us.
If this is true then perhaps the best thing to do is look at the diesels currently up for sale (emmissions and other concerns dealt with) and turn over the steamers and most of the Chama yard to the friends to be converted into a Museum.
This would allow the C&TS to drastically reduce operating costs, and I am sure a schedule that included historically accurate locos and cars running on specific days so that us foamers would have our perfect re-enactments could be worked out. The Friends could run the locos around the yard shunting freight cars etc.
Imagine having original passenger cars painted in original colors pulled by locos with original paint and lettering. Original cars can't be used in regular service or they will be pulled apart.
By now most NG foamers are online and if one was planing a trip to the C&TS they would plan around getting there for "steam day".
Sorry for the length of this, but wow..... THis discussion (arguement, battle, B**** session) seems to come up every six months or so.
Mike