I know that I am going to get on most of your bad sides when I say this, but hindsight being 20/20 it might be a good thing that the C&T has been shut down. (kind of making lemonade when handed lemons).
Consider this. Yesterday the fire near Denver got so out of control and conditions were so bad, the Fire Fighters were pulled out and only air drops were conducted (kind of like going wee-wee on a camp fire). And 40,000 people were told they might have to leave their homes and evacuate. And the one outside Glenwood Springs is out of control.
Think of this, how long would Chama survive if a major forest fire came through town? NOT VERY LONG. Could much, if any of the equipment or structures survive?
I, as much as everybody else would like to see trains running, in both directions. I have a friend who was totaly disheartend this past weekend when he could not ride. He had looked foward to it for over a year. I will be out later this summer to spend my hard earned money in Chama, trains or no trains. I can not get enough of GODS country. In the end when all of this has passed, and the area has taken the bitter, there will be a sweet reward. There almost always is.
Just my opinion.
Better safe than sorry.
John Vandenberg