Shays Elsewhere, and #14

I'm sure a lot of people would love to catch a Shay running through Cumbres Pass with their camera...but those must remember a few things. The first being...the owners of the locomotive have the ultimate say in what goes on! Secondly, both the C&TS and GLR Inc, as-stated, are working railroads (even though they haul passengers). They have to work on economics and everything else; the employees of the railroads need to feed themselves too! Not only wouldn't a West-Side Shay fit in at those railroads, but who's going to pay to truck those lokies out there? If the C&TS is willing to pay to ship #12 or #14 out there (which I hightly doubt), and the Ashbys agree to do so...then maybe there will be some chance of a Shay visiting another place. I HAVE heard/seen locomotives paid for by organizations to appear at events. However, other places have been turned down; a railroad here on the East Coast offered a state-run museum with a replica locomotive a certain amount of money to pay for the shipping of the locomotive to that railroads' event. The museum declined! This museum is notorious for not operating their equipment, and I think we all know what museum I'm talking about. But in short; it depends on the wishes and cooperation of both parties...and the green stuff! All of which can be solved in a day if neccessary. Until then, or even without then, I don't plan to hear any news of a GLR Shay operating at the C&TS.
It would be more likely for the C&TS offered to finish restoration of New Mexico Lumber #7 to Hesston if they'd let them run it there for X seasons! I'm sure area railfans would love it, however...the 8-ball says "not likely".
Keep Steaming,
Ed Kelley