Re: 486 status?

I hate that it has happened, and I have moved on. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing 4014, never saw it burn coal, but it was still impressive. I spent a summer working for the D&S in the 90s. I will miss the smells, but, better to have the RR running than a bike trail in the Animas Canyon.

I consider myself a minor railfan, but slightly more than a regular tourist, and I've gotten so busy I rarely come to this forum anymore. So, from the perspective of the regular tourist, they enjoy seeing a steam train, because it is novel to them, and the scenery in the area is spectacular. The regular tourist is what keeps the business running, and the D&S know it. That is among the reasons why the D&S had record ridership year last year.

I saw a double header of 2 K-28s the last time I was in Durango, loved it. Loved the sound of the engines hitting the grade at Hermosa. Sure there were oil bunkers, but it was symphonic to me.