I'm sorry to say, but the presence of a steam engine at an operation known for one WILL make or break a decision to ride. At Virginia City Montana, the 30" line is a definite draw. While there is a gas mechanical trainset running during the week, it's the 2-8-0 running on weekends that causes impulse stops, with the people spending time in town, either before or after they're train ride.
As far as the mechanics of the CHS-GLRR mess: You are dealing with a state agency with a powerful connected old line staffer (Behrens) who for some reason, felt excluded from the "railroad game". This might have been a case where the Ashby's should have let him run an engine back in the 70's to realize that railroad operation isn't that simple.
But then I suspect not.
So, there's a well connected (anybody in an agency for 30 years is connected)cannon running around in the CHS and now that many have realized that things are not working out as they should, the rest of the agency is doing what it can to maintain credibility.
What we see as denial and a mad dash race around the roundhouse to put something together for 2005 is really many folks trying to salvage the situation that has developed. Don't ask the CHS to say what policy decisions have actually happened, because the minute somebody does, everybody in Colorado politics will crawl out of the woodwork to hang any and all who can be found. More careers are at stake than Mr. Behrens and they are all working their best not to be hung out to dry.
Their odds of success? For what we know about, not very good, but something may happen that pulls CHS's feet from the fire. Best of luck to Railstar, and I hope that historical preservation in Colorado does not get a black mark from the foolish actions of a few at CHS now.
