trainrider47 Wrote:
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> Government competing with local business is pretty
> much a non starter. Also, where would the states
> find employees if no one else can find them
> either?
>
> I got a nice promotional email from the C&TS today
> that is professionally done. At the end is the
> "We're Hiring" notice. It looks like they are
> looking to hire just about every job on the
> railroad. I wish them luck.
>
> [attachment 93640 mail-5.jpg]
>
> Michael Allen
I'll be retiring in two years and I'm still in relatively good health. I grew up in Nevada (country very similar to Colorado) and still think of it as home. I have twenty years of experience as a locomotive engineer. While I know nothing about the operation of a steam engine, I am very mechanically inclined and sure I could get up to speed fairly quickly, I mean the real issue is train handling, regardless of the power source. I could see a scenario where I could move to Colorado and work part time on the C&TS, but why would I? The locals wouldn't want me there, there's nothing in the area and it's not beyond the realm of possibility that my house would be set on fire. I want to live somewhere I can go out at midnight and grab a can of Copenhagen from the local mini mart. I don't want to have to go to the local general store and stock up on supplies for six months. If the wife an I want to go out to dinner I'd want to be able to choose between more than one restaurant or the local Subway.
If what people here are saying is true, Chama is going to die a slow agonizing death because that's what the locals think they want, I've seen it in several small towns I've lived in. The town basically has one industry, the C&TS. I'm sure most people ride the C&TS because they are in the area and hear about a steam train and think "Hey let's go check it out." I'd doubt that it's the focal point of most people's trip to S.W. Colorado. Durango on the other hand has much more to offer, and quite often is the focal point of a trip to Colorado which is probably why don't don't see the D&S begging for people to come and work for it. I plan to take a trip this fall to photograph the route of the RGS between Rico and Dolores and am very much looking forward to visiting the D&S.
I don't wish bad luck on Chama, I hope it finds a way to get through these times, it would be a shame to see the C&TS go away because the town dried up. But for that to happen the locals are going to have to accept that change is inevitable and will have to be willing to take the bad with the good.
Scott
