Its been 17 years since all this happened, and I doubt the principle folks will mind if I share this. We have talked about this stuff several times.
This is a letter I received from Earl Knoob regarding our charters in 1997. It goes like this.
C&TS Letterhead typed dated April 23, 1997
Greg,
This letter is confirmation that you and your associate have chartered
the following special trains on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR.
May 6, 1997
4 or 5 car passenger train Chama to Cumbres and return to Chama. AM departure, return at noon. Train will be preceded by a "support Train" consisting of locomotive 19 and one passenger car. Steam locomotive tentatively to be 484
After lunch 497 will pull a short (nine car) freight train from Chama to Cumbres and return. Again the support train with the diesel and one coach will precede the train. If sufficient freight cars are available, the train may set out at Cumbres and locomotive returned as caboose hop.
May 7, 1997
15-20 car freight train with 497 and 489 (tentatively) operating between Chama and Osier and return.
Fees Charter train on May 6 and 7, 1997 (this was a two day price)
Helper Locomotive on May 7, 1997 ----additional fee
Support Train for May 6(#19 and coach ----Additional Fee
Of the Above Greg Scholl Video productions/Railway Productions agree to pay-------. The balance of ------- will be paid by John West.
As always, we can only try to run the above program as outlined above. The C&TS reserves the right to substitute equipment if necessary if mechanical problems beyond our control occur.
If the C&TS is forced to modify the above agreement, and adjustment in the fees will be made.
As this charter is for private use only, and the general public is not to be carried on board, no extra liability coverage will be required. However all participants who ride the train will be required to sign a release of liability before the operation of the charter Train.
Earl Knoob, Supt.
A second page updating the progress before the rotary was enclosed.
Yesterday's rotary test went well. We had a bearing run hot, which required and hour of cooling down with snow and re-greasing. I'm glad we found out about it yesterday, instead of May 3rd. If we had to deal with it then, we would nevr have been able to finish he job in two days.
We will use 487, 488, and 484 on the rotary. 489 and 497 along with 484 on your specials. As you can see, we are getting all of our locomotives up next week, a rather monumental task. We are doing this as the locomotives tend to get beat up plowing snow. By not using 497 and 489 to plow there is a better change of having them for your trains. 484 will have an easy time as the third locomotive on the plow train and road locomotive for the passenger train May 4.
Earl.
What actually happened was 3 days of plowing, plus a special work train was sent to clear a huge boulder, and our trains were delayed an extra couple of days(dates are not in front of me). I think we ran May 8-9.
On the first trip 484 pulled both the passenger train and the freight train as 497 was not yet ready.
On the second day we had 497 leading and 484 as the rear pusher to Cumbres. 489 was not ready apparently.
Seems like longer than 17 years ago!!!
Greg Scholl
[
www.gregschollvideo.com]
