Re: Coal on the D&S

guymonmd Wrote:
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> rod5nz Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What a damn shame. An important / integral part
> of
> > the living history of the D&S and the Colorado
> > narrow gauge system is now gone forever. The
> D&S
> > could have and should have prevented the 416
> fire,
> > but profits were priority in a year of extreme
> > drought.They had the resources to combat
> > wildfires, but their priorities were profit
> over
> > safety. The entire situation reminds be of the
> > current Boeing fiasco in some respects. At
> least
> > the C&TS is still trying to preserve some coal
> > burners, at least for now.
>
> From what I have read, the 416 fire was a factor
> in D&S's decision to phase out coal. Another part
> of the decision was the closing of local mines and
> scarcity /price of suitable coal for the
> locomotives.

Agreed. Insurability also likely played a big part in the decision to switch to oil. Insurance companies don't want to insure super risky operations. I for one won't miss the cinders and at the end of the day, the locomotices are still steam locomotives, regardless of the fuel source.