Getting out of a routine

In addition to the economic benefits, I have a theory that charters are good because they create non-routine operating situations that add to the train operating skills of the employees. Routine is the enemy of safety, and much of what the C&TS is repetitive routine. While work trains create some variety, there are not that many of them. Charters provide additional opportunities for the employees to deal with new situations and can be part of an important learning curve. The C&TS is a difficult mountain railroad and needs highly skilled employees with experience in dealing with the many things that can go wrong. The more experience the better and safer the railway will be. Clearly charters create their own set of safety issues and risks, but net net it is better to learn on a charter than on a loaded passenger train. But that's just my opinion.

JBWX