The rule of only a work train can run over non-inspected track is not related to or because of any standard or lack of standard for Narrow Gauge track. There never was a congressional ruling on the creation of standards for Narrow Gauge track. The rule that you can’t carry revenue or non-revenue passenger over un-inspected track is not related to any track standard rule, but is an operating rule, regardless of gauge. Only people allowed on a Work Train are paid employees covered by employer insurance.
Don’t forget the history of the C&TS. Years ago the only reason the ICC knew the railroad existed was to look over their boiler per the Locomotive Inspection Act. Then Black Bart had a winter excursion, mostly with English fan, running west from Antonito. At the same time he was on a one engine work train at Los Pinos trying to pull a flanger car to clear the line up to Cumbres. The work train bogged down and Black Bart ordered the passenger excursion to come up and couple into the flanger to help it up the hill. The passenger crew failed to uncouple from the passenger cars and tie the train down near the water tank with hand brakes. Instead they pushed the flanger work train. The engineer told Black Bark who was standing over him, that there was a crossing at Apache and he wanted to stop and check it. Bart barked to go at it and the engine ran up on ice that had recently frozen into the flang-ways and nearly roll over the engine on its side. The pushing passenger engine prevented the immediate stop which the work train could have done if alone. The train went into emergency and threw passengers over the seat and could have injured folks. You NEVER couple any passenger train into a Work Train. Operating Common Sense. Common sense is less common anymore. Because of that accident, the ICC began to look over the C&TS operation.
Later an ex-official of the FTA by name of Jerry Fisher developed a plan to operate the West Half of the C&TS and went to a lot of expense to make his application to run the railroad. The C-NM RR Authority then handpicked the Friends of C&TS to run the railroad and ignored all the application. At the time the late Jerry Fisher was just retired from being the official who approved any FRA exemption request. He became so mad about his operating plan not being considered, he looked for any way he could to kill the railroad, using his friends in the FRA. He knew they could not measure gage or count ties so he had his friends located two sites with bad subsoil they were walking the trains over and claimed a safety defect and put the track out of service. The new operator had to dig out all the subsoil and rebuilt the track on new stable ground. The FRA has been eyeing the railroad ever since.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2019 04:10AM by OC MP62.