John West Wrote:
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> Seems to me it is important that the C&TS ex-
> pand 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.
If advertised well in advance, so that 'regular' passengers would be aware of the roughly half-hour delay, could a run-by be added to both trains one morning a week - say on "Wacky Wednesdays" or "Foamer Fridays" - where those buying special tickets (and signing waivers?) ahead of time could be unloaded quickly from just the first coach and the trains backed down a short distance for run-bys at different locations each week? IIRC D&RG(W?) passenger trains used to stop for a few minutes at the west portal of Tunnel #2 (Rock Tunnel) so passengers could debark and check out the gorge ...
> 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.
Do I detect a hint of "Gonzo-Creep", John? If the idea is to add a cheap inexpensive thrill for "ordinary" fans (as described above), lighting may not be a major factor ...
> 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 that
> 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.
As noted elsewhere, I would be happy to assist The Friends in such an effort in any way I can. Didn't they once have a "Special Train" planning committee, or something to that effect?
> In my mind hauling MOW equipment out on the line
> to demonstrate it is the wrong approach. Running a
> train is expensive.
AMEN, John.
>
Why not demonstrate this fascinating equip-
>
ment, 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".
That is EXACTLY what has been proposed for Friday, August 28, next year if the photo-freights being planned for the 26th and 27th work out. Members of The Friends are already working to make sure the equipment is available and in working order. Tours of The Friends shops, and maybe even of the C&TS shops, may also be possible. A free slide show, featuring historic photos of the D&RGW in the early and mid 1960's - taken by some well-known "Old School" photographers - is tentatively being planed for that evening.
> 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.
... And enhancing those scenes to a new level of art!
> 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.
IMHO, John, that is WAY more than two cents worth of very good advice!
-
Rússo (notso?) Nutso, aka "That Wild-Eyed Foamer from California"