Re: D&S 107

Quote
Newspaper article re: C&TSR Shutdown
Beyond the flames, however, sit places that feel the effects of them regardless. Chama and Antonito, Colo., which anchor the Cumbres & Toltec's 64- mile route, are more like ghost towns than tourist towns, say business owners and city officials in each.

Since its forced closure on June 7, the railroad has laid off 69 of its 75 workers in Chama -- no small figure in a town of 1,500.

Meanwhile, on Main Street of similarly sized Antonito, where many of the train's 17,000 annual riders often spend a night, Palace Hotel owner Bill Laurell is waiting for someone -- anyone -- to rent one of his 12 rooms. So far this season, he's had two customers.

"You can't blame anybody," he said. "Mother Nature says you can't afford to start another fire."

See the full article here:
[www.sfgate.com]