I generally take the comments in a Facebook post like that with a grain of salt, but one commenter intimated that the D&SNG would be unable to obtain insurance--due to the 416 fire lawsuit--if they did not convert their fleet from coal. I can't in any way corroborate that but it certainly sounds like it could be true. If true, that certainly should squash the remaining angst about the oil conversions. I should think that all of us--save for a few on the fringe--consider oil-burning steam and diesel locomotion to be a far better alternative than a rail trail to Silverton.
I'm just grateful the railroad survived the one-two punch of the fire and the pandemic.
I hope to be back to Durango again soon for another ride! Much as I like the historic WP&YR diesels, I'll still choose the steam option.
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Dave Vollmer
Rio Grande Southern in HOn3
Colorado Midland in N scale
Colorado Springs, CO