Re: Post from Robby Peartree over at RYPN

Robbie makes some good points, such as the truism that railfans don't buy enough tickets to support a historic railroad operation, but he does have a tendency to get a bit loose with his facts in order to support his narriative, especially regarding the C&TS. For instance, it turns out the commissioner in fact was correct when he stated in 2005 that there would be a "dramatic increase in ridership" with the third locomotive (488) returning to operation.

Consider the numbers. Ridership went from 16,829 in 2003 (only one loco, 487, operational), to 30,061 in 2004 (only 484 and 487 operational), to 33,023 in 2005 (three locos), then to 39,639 in 2006, 43,164 in 2007, 44,714 in 2008, and 41,092 in 2009. One complicating factor was that, although the C&TS continued operating three locos from 2005 to 2009, in 2005 it only ran 8 trains a week (as it had done in 2002). However, in 2006 it tried and succeeded in running 12 trains a week with three locos.

This is not to argue that simply adding locos and trains leads to more ridership, but the facts do show that there was a "dramatic increase in ridership" once the third loco was added and the railroad operated more trains. Of course, by 2009 the economy was starting to tank and in 2010 the Lobato Trestle fire hit.