There are a lot of "Rockie" drivers out there. Back in the day we would see a lot of the same faces chasing mainline steam trips, but you would always get a few first timers. Today with so few mainline steam events worth chasing, most everyone is a "Rookie" chase driver. UP is about the last ball-game, so it draws crowds, plus everyone wants to say they have seen "The Biggest" steam engine. I am waiting for that rare 80 car freight (50's era cars??) up Sherman Hill with no diesel and 844 pulling excursion patrons to locations for runbys with side by side views. I rode 2 great excursions with 3985 in 1987 and 1988, and we did about 12 runbys on each trip. What a show!!! Price was around $200.00, maybe less.
Greg