National Register and the Next Loop Committee Meet *LINK*

For information on the process involved in getting the #111 listed on the National Register go here: [www.cr.nps.gov]. The #111 will have to get registered on the National Register before the grant money can be issued. If you don’t agree with the #111’s designation, then go to (t) on that page, where you will find out how to file an objection (or a promotion of the designation for that matter). It’s pretty common knowledge that one of the issues of the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. was getting the CHS to help them with maintenance/restoration/repair of the equipment. Getting the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc.’s sister to #111 a historic designation somehow never came up. Just one of a zillion things that point to the fact that this is not about historic preservation, but rather about what the CHS can do for the CHS and whoever/whatever gets to benefit from that is only secondary to their intent. I disagree with Mr. Ways in that I believe the rolling stock that ran on the Georgetown Loop for 30 years is indeed historic to the line – and to Georgetown, a national landmark district. Many of you watching this situation may be able to just sit and wait. Taxpayers and citizens of our county can not afford that luxury. No signs of a gift shop, no reservations systems (or even reservations personnel), scant offerings of steam motive power, not to mention the loss of all the promotions that the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. did for our county, all equate into a financial loss for our county and represent a serious lack of understanding of the tourist industry on the part of the new operator. This time last year, the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. had thousands of passengers already booked for the summer season. Mr. Trottier (per my conversation with him) did not seem to understand why anyone would need to book a reservation NOW for a trip in June. It’s too bad that Mike Coffman’s (the state treasurer) proposal of diverting half the money allotted to CHS/SHF to the state’s tourism didn’t pan out a few years ago. For those of you who choose not to just sit back and wait (or even if you just want to sit and watch), the next Loop Committee is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24th, 6pm at the Idaho Springs Visitor Center.