Shays and such *LINK*

Geewhiz, is this a dream or what!?!
Anyway, just for kicks and giggles.
I'm at work so I don't have my milepost marker guide for the C&TS but I'm guessing that it's about 15-17 miles by rail from Chama to Cumbres Pass.
That is an unusually long one-way trip for a Shay, as most of the time, on engines like these, we like to stop and inspect and lubricate about every 5 miles.
Last year, we had the 70-ton saturated steam 3-truck Shay 1925 at Great Smoky Mountains Railroad for the line's railroad festival. On Sunday after the festival, I was the fireman and Archie Fisher was the engineer for the deadhead move, a run of 16 miles over fairly level track with one short stretch of hill. We'd figured we'd make the trip, including stops, in about 3 hours but were pleasantly surprised when we made it in 2. Could we do that every day? With a good engine crew that knows how to manage water and fuel and a good regular maintenance program on the engine at night, probably yes. Without that kind of support to keep everything properly aligned, probably not. And with a heavy grade and maximum tonnage train, it would be tough to do. Not impossible, but not something you'd want to do every day.
Better solution: Instead of trying to make the Shay a road engine, set up one at Cumbres Pass and make short 4-5 mile trips, alternating down either side of the mountain to the water tanks at Los Pinos or Coxo (hope I got that one right) to catch the people who show up after the 10 a.m. departure from Chama and/or folks who just want a 1-hour trip instead of an all day gig.