Here's a goofy idea. Get ahold of a small loco (say 169 or 315 or whatever), make an extended loop of track (or go back and forth on the main) and build a little western tourist village on th Antonito end. Run some 30 minute trips that stop or end in the tourist town.
The casual tourist passing through town might consider pausing to take a 15/30/45 minute trip or visiting the tourist attraction. As they ride the short trip, you inform them about the C&TS as they ride, as well as plastering the tourist trap with color posters and information booths.
If you could get the CofC in Antonito interested perhaps they could help. A few billboards along 285 advertising the "Historic Steam Railroad" wouldn't hurt. A here's your chance to operate some of the smaller NG steamers for profit.
1. This attracts the spur of the moment tourist to the railroad. A 15 or 30 minute ride is withing tolerance for someone "just passing through". (Although longer, this is how I convinced my wife to ride the Georgetown Loop)
2. It increases "traffic" on the Antonito end.
3. With the proper assortment of rock, antique, candle, whatever stores you could bait the average tourist in. Who knows, maybe the Antonito "Outlet Mall".
Just rambling,
Scott Green