Russo Loco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Greg Scholl Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> ---
> > ... The fact that Mr. West wants to run an
> afternoon
> > train up the hill from Chama, I believe dictates
> that
> > the patrons use the train. That's because some
> of
> > the best AFTERNOON shots will be easier to get
> > to from the railroad.
>
> IIRC, John's original proposal was for an
> afternoon Antonito-Osier round trip, emphasizing
> afternoon light on the WESTBOUND train en route to
> and at Osier, with a possible early-evening photo
> shoot at Osier prior to a late-evening and
> after-dark return to Antonito. Most of this
> can be accomplished the second day of a two-day
> Chama-Antonito round trip, so I'm not sure that
> the eastbound trip on Day One needs to depart
> Chama in the afternoon. That's up to John to
> decide after evaluating input from as many
> potential patrons as possible.
Yes I believe he is still planning on Afternoon out of Antonito,but he
said he wanted to do something DIFFERENT out of Chama, and stated it would be afternoon departure from Chama(I thought he said this on the board, but it may have been a back-channel...oops). He said he had done enough of the regular everyday shots in the morning Chama-Cumbres.
Thus you are looking at two afternoon trains. No opinion, just what I heard. Thats why I stated what I Did.
>
> > We did such a train on {John} Craft's trip in
> 1992.
> > This was an afternoon train with a doubleheader
>
> > and a rear pusher(497). This was cool cause the
>
> > rider gon was right ahead of 497 and it made
> some
> > awesome video.
>
> The majority of those who have expressed interest
> so far - both publicly and privately - are
> primarily hopeful that as authentic a train as
> possible can be operated. This would preclude a
> rider-gon full of videographers immediately in
> front of the helper - or even between the helper
> and the caboose. If it's already been done -
> and professionally video'd - then IMHO there's no
> need to do it over again ...
---I am with you on the authentic part Russ. As far as doing something
over again, remember not EVERYONE was there the first time. On Crafts trips, I led a group into Cresco on the first day, and chased some. The second weekend I rode. This weekend they did different runbys, and I for one never got the TOTLEC Tunnel shot, nor Mud Tunnel as they were skipped. As for people in the rider gon, EVERYONE who paid for the ticket was ON THE TRAIN, so we messed up nobody's shots except those who were chasers without tickets.
>
> > Anyway, there were at least two runbys, maybe
> > three in the area around Lobato ... After
> that we
> > all used buses and drove to Coxo ...
>
> How did you get from Lobato to the buses?
> SFAIK, the current owners of the land between
> Lobato and the highway are adamant about
> prohibiting trespassers.
--In my post I said we did runbys at the Trestle, and below the Cabins,
then did another runby before the second crossing. As I recall we were not far from the crossing(before it), and after two runbys there, we all walked to the highway, boarded two of the smaller buses then went to Coxo. No worries about trespassing. In 1993 I did a charter where we did runbys below the cabins(half way from the crossing to the bridge) and never had an issue. I think you are allowed so many feet along the right of way.
>
> > ... Now, if you were doing a morning departure
> > I would recommend using cars and getting on
> > at Cumbres ...
>
> That would be my own preference as well - but
> allowing ten different caboose riders on each of
> four segments of the Chama-Cumbres leg as
> described above - see
> [
ngdiscussion.net]
> 96263#msg-196263. Personally, I'd like to
> spend some afternoon time between Apache Crossing
> and Los Piños Station (m.p. 323) - but that
> may get covered this year by Pete's charter on
> September 22.
---You don't want to kill time changing out riders in the caboose.
Time is the most precious aspect of these charters. As Pete suggested
you have only 10 hours to work with. If you fritter away 5 minutes 6
times for swap outs, thats 30 minutes of your day(5% down the Wolf Creek and under the Lobato Trestle).
On an Ohio Central trip I did in 2003, they sold raffle tickets for cab rides. At some spots they did 3-5 runbys. Each time the engine backed up, instead of backing all the way to start the next runby, they had to stop at each crossing, and swap cab riders. I was one of them,
but in retrospect it slowed the process down considerably, cause they had to slow, stop, exchange, then start the backing process all over again. I personally would not like to see half a dozen guys hanging all over the caboose during the runbys, especially if I were chasing and paid for a ticket. A rear brakeman like Alan is fine though!!! A lot of people shoot video today, and they shoot the entire train.
>
> > Ultimately I think John will have to see what
> > costs are and what locations he chooses will
> > dictate if fans ride or chase. If you are going
> > for some "different" remote shots then you'll
> > need the train to get you there.
>
>
> Right, Greg -
>
> But then there's the trade-off between passenger
> capacity and an authentic-looking train.
The only thing that effects riders on the train is the addition
of a rider gon, and perhaps one outfit car. We used 2 on the Craft
trips and they were followed by the rider gon and caboose. One outfit
car had a potty, but the caboose did not since it was the original D&RGW one, 0503.
One
> of the great things about the internet -
> especially the NGDF - is that John can easily
> gather input from potential patrons and determine
> what people are willing to pay for - and how much
> - before finalizing arrangements with the
> railroad.
---You got that right....a big advantage over the early 90's
when we did everything through advertising, and word of mouth.
I'd like to see a set of trips like Craft did after the season is over sometime. Of course back then he had 5 engines to choose from, and he picked three...484,487, and 497!!! They PAINTED them(tenders and cab lettering back then...non of this stickers pasted on crap)
Greg
>
> - Russ
