C&TS status report

The C&TS is now operating daily, and the routine is about the same as in years past. So far the Chama train has been doubleheaded every day due to the weight of the water car used for fire protection.
Early passenger volume is consistent with past years, running below the record level of 1998, but probably ahead of last year (depends on how you adjust for the days not run this year). While it is too early to make any kind of reliable projection for the year, if current trends continue it will probably be about 60,000.
In general things appear to be going reasonably well. The fire danger remains high, but so far the fire prevention efforts have been successful. And it has rained a little the last several days. But the air and ground are so dry, it will take more than a little rain to put the fire danger behind us.
The immediate challenge is locomotives. The three locomotives in service (463,487 and 489) are used every day and are operating well. But there is no relief engine. The railroad is working hard to get the 497 finished, and hopefully that will be done within the next several weeks. And with luck the 484 may be back by September. There are 15 folks working in the shop right now. But there is also a shortage of enginemen, so the railroad is forced to use shopmen as firemen more often than is desireable (slowing work on the 497).
A lot of effort is going into track work, and getting ready for the EDA program work. Max and his crew did a good job of getting the railroad open, and work continues on ditching and restoring shoulders. At this point a lot of work is focused on repairing equipment: replacing motors on the two tampers, rehabing the ballast cars, rebuilding more motor cars in preparation for the big push on the EDA work.
Work is also going on in the back office, to get the reservations and ticketing process working more smoothly, and improving customer relations.
This is going to be a tough year. The railroad is digging out of deep hole and all the problems cannot be solved instantly. In particular, charter train operations are going to be more limited than in the past (but there will be some). And locomotive failures could disrupt operations, especially in the short term.
But if you come to Chama, you can generally expect to find things running about as they have in the past.
Hope the above is of interest.