Seems to me it is important that the C&TS expand its little band of supporters, and affordable photo trains may be an important way of doing that. Photo trains provide more opportunity for new folks to get up close and personal with the fascinating old equipment, and maybe get caught by the bug.
Notice I did not say photo freights, because as the D&S has shown photo trains might include special passenger trains. The key is providing good photo ops. Nothing wrong with a good picture of a C&TS passenger train at Cascade....the secret is to be there when the lighting is good and not midday.
Inexpensive photo trains are inevitably going to include passenger cars, because that is the only way to safely handle the number of people needed to keep the price affordable. As John Bush is doing this year, if it is a "freight" you simply need to drop the passenger cars for occasional runbys, or create photo ops where the passengers cars can be cropped out of the picture.
But with large groups, a LOT of planning needs to go into planning photo ops that are both good, and also in locations that can handle the larger groups. The D&S has generally done a pretty good job of this, but it is labor intensive. I believe the D&S has more marketing-type folks to look after details than the C&TS. The C&TS might look to the Friends to help do some of the work. The more effort put in generally the better the result.
In my mind hauling MOW equipment out on the line to demonstrate it is the wrong approach. Running a train is expensive. Why not demonstrate this fascinating equipment, which is a wonderful example of the Friends' work, right in the yard. For free. So as many folks as possible can see it. This could be done perhaps the day before or the day after a photo special, to help create a multi-day "event".
All that said, I think there is also a place for the "gonzo phraud-o-phreight" for the shrinking number of photographers who enjoy trying to recreate scenes from the past.
The key in my mind is to coordinate events so they don't compete with each other, provide plenty of time for travel planning, and involve folks who can market them effectively.
Just my two cents which may or may not be worth two cents.
JBWX
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/01/2014 03:21PM by John West.