Re: Phorging - and Phunding - a Phrameable Phraud-O-Graph ...

rod Wrote:
========================================
> ...  Don't forget in your "what-ifs" that there
> is a visitor snoozing over in Antonito that just
> might want to be added to somebody's dance
> card for next year ...  I think a consultation with
> the DRHS might be appropriate as it is not good
> manners for the C&TS to ignore an invited guest


Well, Rod -

I've already corresponded with Dennis (see root post, above), and am not sure the DRHS is terribly enthusiastic about running #315; they seem to have had trouble selling enough tickets the last year or two to make the effort worthwhile.  But they also seem to be opposed to any variation of #315's appearance that might bring back previous supporters to get some new photos - decidedly different from those possible since 2008.  Also, although an enthusiastic supporter of the C&TS for well over forty years, I'm not an employee of the RR and so not in the position of offering to play host to #315.

A second consideration is whether a two-engine freight with #315 on the point and #463 helping near the rear - or vice versa - would be histörically correct.  One of the main objectives of my effort to organize a non-profit charter next September - in addition to bringing some traffic and income to the C&TS during a usually quiet time of the year - is to follow up on Earl's notion of enabling fans to take "Phraud-O-Graphs" ® - photos of a train that so closely resembles one run by the D&RGW that it is extremely difficult to tell the shots were taken in 2014 instead of 1954 - or even 1934.

Speaking of 1934, are any records available that show #315 (or at least a similar 2-8-0) being used in helper service while working her way back to Durango from a major shopping in Alamosa during the period for which she is currently painted?  Ditto #463, whether as a helper or as a road engine, during the same period?  For that matter, are both #315 and #463 "decorated" for the same era on the D&RGW, or is one of them 'early thirties' (Royal Gorge logo) and one of them 'late thirties' (Moffat Tunnel logo)??   If they're not correctly lettered to be run together, which of them should be back-dated (or up-dated) so that they match???

I'll hereby add an eighth item to my "Phraud-O-Graph ® wish-list" in the above post - an entire train authentically painted and lettered - from engine to caboose - according to the pre-1940 standard - no "flying" Rio Grande logos ANYWHERE on the train! *

At least we have ten months to figure things out -
    1. What era do we want to 'Phraud-O-Graph'?
    2. Which engines - and cars - are available for this?
    3. How much re-painting and re-lettering will be necessary?
    4. What would be the total cost of such a charter, per day / per person?
    5. Are there enough of us interested to make further pursuit of this loco idea worthwhile??

- Rüsso Loco, Instigatador

* Which raises yet another question: what about the GRAMPS tank cars? Can they by used in a pre-1940 train, or was Mr. Hughes oil field not established - and the leased UTLX cars not re-lettered - until after 1940??