Re: Rotary Snowplow event

Thank you for your interest in our 50th anniversary celebration!

We have several exciting events planned; some will require purchase of tickets; others will be available to the public at no charge. Our goal is to provide a well-rounded celebration, honoring the long-standing traditions of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, as well as ushering in new and exciting equipment and events!

Our first event will be the presentation and operation of the Rotary Snow Plow OY. The OY was last used to clear the line in 1997, 22 years ago! Our staff has worked hard to bring the OY back up to safe and compliant operating status and we are excited to announce we will operate the OY to Cumbres Pass, weather and other conditions permitting, on February 29 and March 1, 2020, departing out of Chama, NM. This is an expensive venture for the Cumbres & Toltec; restoration costs alone for the OY have exceeded $40,000. The revenue from limited number of tickets being sold to accompany the OY via motor coach will be used to help off-set the cost of restoration as well as help cover the cost of motor coaches, meals, traffic control, staff and crew.

In the interest of public safety, we will be escorting traffic over Highway 17, in a controlled environment, similar to a construction project that uses a pilot escort to guide traffic through a construction zone. The route from Chama to Cumbres Pass will be divided into seven segments to keep delays at a minimum and is designed to provide the least amount of inconvenience to the traveling public and in accordance with requirements of special use permits of both states. This plan has been developed in conjunction with, and endorsed by, Colorado and New Mexico Departments of Transportation and Highway Patrol. Clearly, this is no small feat, and we appreciate the cooperative effort of all those who are working toward making this a safe event. If at any point we feel the event will not meet the expectations of those who have purchased tickets or the public in general, we will not hesitate to cancel the event. Weather, of course, will be the final determining factor.

We do appreciate your concerns regarding all of our 50th anniversary events and are confident that you will be provided the opportunity to participate at some level in the coming months!

John Bush