I would agree with your idea to strive to make the C&T a living museum so to speak and letter the equipment Rio Grande (or D&RGW when equipment for this time period was being restored/painted). I think this has to come from the commission as part of the “big picture” master plan for what the RR should be about. What is the policy of the friends during rebuilding of equipment in regards to restoration timeframe and paint and lettering? The flying Cumbres & Toltec logo to me just looks a contrived copy. I can understand the idea of name and brand identity for the C&T, but in this case the concept of reproducing a historically accurate depiction of a working Rio Grande would be a much stronger and marketable idea. I have always wondered how much more it would have cost to produce replica cars with passenger trucks that would look more like something that actually operated over the line. I think once you get the idea going of recreating a time machine it could really be a very marketable theme that the media and public would be drawn to. My 2 ½ cents plus I will match your $250 so that makes $500.025 for the relettering pot.
Rod Jensen