Anti-Rail/Tourism set

The Ashby's have been operating a class act for 30 years. They have been setting things up so that their Daughter and Son in Law can continue their Legacy. However they have had to overcome a attitude in Georgetown and Silver Plume of get that "damn smoking train out of here".
Let us hope that the anti train locals don't try to influence the outcome of this battle. They would love to see the railroad shutdown and the trees return to hide the old right of way. They could be a factor in objections to steam or continued operation by trains over the loop.
However I think the Fat Lady hasn't even tuned up her throut yet. This is all part of the opening rounds of the war. This situation could embarress the CHS if they do not have a credible operator in the wings. Like others have noted, the CHS have a unrestored 2-6-0, some non-operational coaches and a big trainshed that doesn't connect to the Loop trackage. Is this the best situation for the CHS to be negotiating for new operator. There are few operators or owners of equipment that could continue to operate the loop, like the Ashby's. Lets not see another "Black Bart" come in to operate the railroad.
Best of luck to the Ashby's and that this is only a bump in the road and they return in 2005.
Dale Brown