rehunn Wrote:
========================================
> We're not gonna get much snow on September 7th!
Right, Rich -
That's why I'm focusing on a realistic-as-possible two-engine mixed freight westbound from
Antonito in the afternoon in late summer, and leaving the scheduling and organizing of the
Cumbres Turn / Flanger Train combo late in 2015 - or in the early months of 2016 - up to
the highly competent and on-the-scene Mr. Bush & company. See [
ngdiscussion.net]
...
What I would LIKE to see happen in September,
IF possible and
IF affordable
:
1. A two-engine mixed freight, westbound from Antonito to Osier, on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
2. A realistic consist for the above, based insofar as possible on John West's 'Deer John' photos of December, 1961.
3. A "chase" train made up of a concessions / "potty" car, an open gon, one rider boxcar, and the "Tully" caboose - pulled by #19.
*
4. Several photo run-bys - some at some less-common locations, or at least with the photo lines in new positions.
5. A (nearly full) "moonrise" photo op near m.p. 317.50.
6. An evening photo op at Osier with the westbound engine taking water.
7. A well-lit night photo op at Osier with the eastbound engine taking water.
8. (Added 11/01/13) The entire train authentically painted and lettered - from engine to caboose - according to the pre-1940 standards
:
NO "flying"
Rio Grande logos ANYWHERE on the train! (And no ex-standard gauge steel flats, etc.)
IF enough participants are interested, perhaps the freight could overnight at Osier, while the "chase" train returns to Antonito and then runs again on Sunday, with a quick-as-possible trip to Osier in the late morning followed by several afternoon and evening photo ops between Osier and Cumbres.
(Added 11/15/13) With the recent announcement that eight (
8, count 'em
8!) tank cars MAY be available by late summer 2015, maybe this trip should be postponed for about a year - to August 26 or 27, 2015 - in order to take advantage of both the new tanks and the full moon
...
-
Rüsso MUY Loco
* Note that one rider car and one caboose limits the number of participants to 30 boxcar riders and 12 extra-fare caboose riders, or a total of 42 on the chase train, plus maybe six to eight appropriately-dressed (non-photographer?) riders on the freight itself. Based on a WILD guess from the costs of my 2010 charter, we're probably looking at a
minimum $15,000 to $18,000 per day in payments to the C&TS, or at least $295/day for a boxcar rider and $350/day for a caboose ticket - possibly $65 to $95 more. Adding a second caboose to the "chase" train would lower per-rider costs, but increase crowding at photo ops. Personally, I'd prefer fewer people and more - as John West puts it -
Gemütlichkeit ...
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2013 12:25PM by Russo Loco.
