Re: Running Again & Economy

"The "anti-train-ers" seemingly do not comprehend just how much the RR brings in ..."

During the Viet Nam days early 1970s, I was in the submarine service making patrols out of Apra Harbor, Guam. Lots of problems on the island with the local people complaining about all the military, all branches, flooding the island and hurting their economy. Some businesses even refused to serve those in uniform. The good ole Navy did something smart. One payday (before automatic deposits), every sailor on Guam got paid in $2 bills. By the time I went into town about 5pm for liberty and dinner, there were already signs in business windows stating "No $2 bills" like gas stations, grocery and hardware stores, and restaurants. The island was swamped with the strange bills, no place in the cash register to put them, so there were stacks of $2 bills with rubber bands around them next to each cash register. A brilliant move to prove where most people's bread and butter came from -- and before the sun went down. The attitude on Guam changed virtually overnight. A very demonstrative lesson. Too bad the folks riding the train don't arrive with bright orange dollar bills or something. Durango, Silverton, Chama or Antonito would economically be different communities without the lure of those two railroads. I think most appreciate that. Hopefully the complainers are a minority.

PS - Nice photos of the diesel trains, Jerry. Those photos will soon be history in themselves.

Paul