Re: Quite a year on the ex-DRGW narrow gauge

It HAS been an awesome year! And thanks for all of the incredible images that have been posted. The future is bright with possibilities.

But let's not forget that the reason these images exist and are possible is that the railroads themselves are commercial operations that have to cover their costs, justify public investment, and hopefully make a profit. I encourage you to watch the videos of the last Commission meeting where the news was of attaining ridership goals and the resulting financial health. I hope that the D&S and all narrow gauges are having an equally good year. The presence of profit makes dreams come true.

I see news of 20 and 223 returning to service, the discussions of freight car restorations, T-12's on Cumbres, and tracks north of Silverton. Bring it on! These will be difficult, as always, to accomplish and will require us to dig deep in our pockets and turn lots of wrenches. But God forbid the day when the rails that all of this depend upon are no longer commercially viable. Many have experience with putting their time and treasure into life support instead of progress. The absence of profit dooms the future.

Let's get just as excited about self sufficiency, new parlor cars, increasing ridership, cost efficiencies and profits.

Our dreams depend upon it.