RGRPC Press Release
Date: Saturday, 29 June 2002, at 2:12 p.m.
Rio Grande Railway Preservation Corporation
FOR I M M E D I A T E R E L E A S E
Media Contact: Kim Smith Flowers
Acting General Manager
kimflowers@cumbrestoltec.com
(505) 756-2151
Rio Grande, Cumbres & Toltec Discuss Reopening Conditions
A meeting in Monte Vista, Colorado, on Friday June 28, 2002 between Rio Grande National Forest officials and representatives of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad resulted in a mutual agreement for conditions under which the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad would resume operations in the Rio Grande National Forest.
Three remote Remote Area Weather Stations (RAWS) provide the Forest Service with data about weather and the susceptibility of forest materials to fire. Two key indices are Energy Release Components (ERC) and 1000-hour fuel moistures. Current RAWS readings for these are in the Very High to Extreme ranges. Rio Grande officials recommend that the railroad not resume operations until these two indices have readings in the High range. Representatives at the meeting agreed that if these indices were in the High range for 3-4 consecutive days, the railroad would begin activities to resume operations.
“I am very pleased with the results of this meeting,” said Kim Smith-Flowers, Acting General Manager for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. “It was very clear to me that the people at Rio Grande are charged with a very daunting task, given the fire conditions we are all facing. They are concerned about the economic impact the closure of the train is having in our respective communities and were willing to work with us to balance both concerns.”
Flowers added, “when we resume train service we will also continue with our fire prevention and suppression program – crew members trained in firefighting techniques, tools on board the train, a water tank car behind the locomotive, a water tank and tools on a speeder car following the train, and a tanker truck following the train on the highway until conditions improve dramatically. If that means we run fire equipment all season, we are willing to do that. Right now we all need to pray for rain, and the safety of fire fighters who are protecting our resources in the worst conditions in years.”
Fire severity ranges for the two indices affecting railroad operations are:
Extreme: ERC greater than 95%, 1000 hour fuels 0-8%
Very High: ERC greater than 81-85%, 1000 hour fuels 8-13%
High: ERC greater than 51-80%, 1000 hour fuels 13-16%
Moderate: ERC greater than 25-50%, 1000 hour fuels 16-20%
Low: ERC greater than 0-24%, 1000 hour fuels greater than 20%
Daily information about local fire conditions and index ratings can be found at
Cumbres and Toltec Information
Data from the Forest Service can be found at
Weather: Weather data [select “Fire weather” Then “Pueblo” from the Rocky Mt. Area reports]
RAWS data: RAWS DATA
