Very interesting conversation here. As I may have said before I do think that by choosing a smaller operator such as Railstar, they can have some excuse to (as said here) dump after a season or two and continue with their conspiracy to develop the area. To me, I think that a steam mountain railroad is a bigger draw than a biking/hiking park and ski resort...heck you could put biking/hiking trails in already and make it a dual attraction can't you? This is scary politics at work. Many of us have written letters to the Governor and other places...and no response on my letter (anybody get a response yet from theirs?!). As for amending the RFP, yes that's probably what they will do. With the things that the CHS wants here out of the operator...isn't it a little funny that they'd get three (one small, two noname) potential operators knocking on their door interested in this operation? If 30 percent of profits is the deal here, I doubt anybody would be interested. Perhaps the grudge against the GLR Inc-ie Lindsey Ashby/Mark Greksa...and by making the RFP so unfair it can get rid of them? It's amazing what egos can do. Just like out in California with a lifelong Californian, Norman Clark, starting Roaring Camp (not a Santa Cruz mountain native give you)...having two natives of the area operate the attraction is a very good thing. And from what I understand the whole organization is very active in the local community, and has drawn people there for the 30 years or so it has been operating.
So out of a 1-100 percentage scale, what would everyone think the possibility of the CHS changing their darn RFP and GLR Inc. can return to the loop? With these CHS folks, it sounds like a very minimal chance. A little over a month before the flame of hope burns out, just like the fires in the 12, 14, and 40. When a railroad is practically an institution and is known worldwide, who in their right mind would want to shut it down? It's bringing in good tourist money and people into the area...when you have little European diesels with tweety horns on the bridge, you won't get the draw that the #40 or the Shays get. Sure some will argue that diesels attract passengers too, but when you've had a steam-operated railroad for decades and it switches to diesel, people get turned off. Sure some extremely un-rail-folks will question "if its steam", but anybody can tell a diesel from a steam locomotive. You do get people puzzled by the amusement park fake steam junk, but these are usually in very steam-deprived areas. There are several people probably into their 20s or 30s that have never seen a steam locomotive in their entire lives! Believe me, I know some. If the CHS conspiracy theory is true, than they'll get what they want; a railroad out of business and all that land back...but at the expense of at LEAST one very historic locomotive, the people of Georgetown and Silver Plume, and the employees of the GLR Inc. and their families (they may get job offers, but I understand most of the crew are Colorado natives. With the steam industry, jobs are scattered all over...and having to move to a different state on the job from somewhere you've lived your whole life).
I'm really curious if any CHS people are on this board and are just staying silent...
I was going to say something else but had a mental block...maybe it will come back to me later.
Best wishes to all and keep steaming!!
-Ed Kelley
