Re: Creede Branch

I am impressed with your work on the D&RG to Creede.
I have been in Chama, Durango, Alamosa, Denver , and Gunnison several times each. My love of history keeps me coming back. I've yet to make Creede. The first way I remember hearing anything about Creede was in John Wayne's last movie "The Shootist".
I have known about the Alamosa to Durango narrow gauge since the late 1960's and my fist visit was to Durango in 1972.
I do not hear anyone talking much about Creede, South Fork, Wagon Wheel Gap. I hear alot about Antonito, Windy Point, Gato, etc.
The draw for me is the narrow gauge and that's the C&TS and D&SNG and to a lesser degree due to its distance from Albequerque (where I fly into) the Georgetown Loop. If you are running standard gauge equipment, I would not be interested (I have the Tennessee Valley Railraod about 2 hours from me and the Great Smokey Mountain about 4).
None of the equipment would be original to the Creede branch and so I would probably go to the C&TS or the D&SNG. If you have 169 running, then I'd be interested in visiting. I have wanted to see 169 on the Antonito side of Cumbres in the desert for years.
I had nextdoor neighbors drive through the four corners area a few years ago. They had seen my video tapes and were interested. When they got to Durango and then to Chama, they were put off because the rides were too long and you basically had to make reservations ahead of time. They wanted a Georgetown Loop style 45-60 minute ride. They moved t Atlanta about 10 years ago from New York City and have a fast and furious way of doing things. They would be interested in your ride to Creede.
You will probably be able to bring in these type people without hurting the C&TS or D&SNG crowd.
I hope you can pull it off. I hope this may help you a little with your marketing.
As for personal overall preferences (and I do not intend this as a slam at what you are doing), I'd rather see the Creede efforts put into 3rd railing Alamosa to Antonito OR replacing the line west from Chama to the Continental divide (which might allow limited year round C&TS operations although I do not think there is enough tourists there to support this option).
If there was a way to set up a Durango-Ignacio line you could provide visitors in Durango the oportunity to ride the train down to the Casino for the day.
Oh well - Good Luck.
Doug.