I cannot really recall the exact amounts from 1993, but I am sure we paid more that year than we did in 1997, perhaps because of a different regime, I don't know. There were 2-3 different tiers of charter prices.
(1) Regular season charter prices
(2) Fall color(Stock Rush) charter prices
(3) Preseason or end of season charter prices(These were the cheapest)
In 1997 Les Jarrett and I embarked on a 4-5 week journey, working on several projects at once. We worked on our 4th and final America By Rail video(Route of the SW Chief), and combined this shooting with the rotary run in May. Since we were working together and both there to shoot the rotary we came up with a way to shoot something else that would be marketable, which was the eventual "Chased by a Steam Train" two volume set. So we worked on pricing those costs after the rotary runs were over.
(A) Single engine preseason price for regular full day was $3600.00
With this we ran a Passenger train(4 coaches) with 484 to Cumbres in the morning, and an afternoon freight with 484 and 10 cars. We were supposed to use 497 in the afternoon, but it was not ready to go.
(Sub A) We also paid an additional $700 for the day to use diesel 19 pulling one coach which ran ahead of the two runs, where we shot video back on the following steam trains(484). This was done because doing it with steam would have been $2K, and we were already spending a lot of cash for 2 guys!!!
(
There was a two-day rate proposed to us, to be made on consecutive
days and that rate was $1800.00 more, thus $5400. Les and I decided to splurge and treat ourselves to a single engine train to Osier and back with one engine.
(C)John West got wind of our proposed trips and offered to pay for a helper for the whole day, and that was $2K. He wanted to see multiple engines Osier to Cumbres in the snow. So we wound up with 497 on the point the second day, and 484 as rear pusher to Cumbres. After that things went to pot but thats another story.
So for those two days Les and I paid the Railroad $5400+$700 for the diesel....total $6100.00 John West paid $2K.
Like I said I know we paid more in 1993 that $5400 for two days cause we had two engines both days.
How long have prices been $10K for singe engine one day....10 years!!!
My point is simply multiplying my figures doesn't always work cause every circumstance is slightly different. I think back in 1997 the regular season rate was $5K, and $7K for fall trips. Not 100% sure on that but Earl might elaborate on the subject cause he is who we dealt with in 1997.
Cheers,
Greg
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2015 09:20AM by Greg Scholl.