I've been thinking about this all;
Not too long ago, someone brought up that if the #9 was being brought back to steam in different circumstances, people would praise (not complain) of its restoration. I agree entirely with this statement; the #9 is among my personal favorites, and I'd love to see her run again. But to be used daily service on the Georgetown Loop, even if the original locomotive is mostly gone anyhow, would run it to the ground; something Peter Gores and Ron Trottier know well, and have already stated will not be done. If she runs in Georgetown, it will apparently be 'a few times a year'.
While Bell, Behrens, and these other guys have proven to be jokes, they won't be running the railroad; Peter Gores will... and his references in various other web sources and by other respected names in the industry (for example, Rob Mangels posted on Gores' accomplishments here some time ago). While the Railstar missed-payment deal in Belfast is a bit dissapointing, and the town anyhow appears to be out to get the company as-is, we have every reason to believe Gores knows what he's doing. Someone with a reputation like that isn't going to relocate halfway across the country to risk blowing a good reputation of 20+ years.
The GLR Inc. is gone from Silver Plume, and won't be back. CHS isn't leaving, either, as far as evidence is presented here. A lot of fine railroaders were put out of jobs, and the economy of what I understand to be a quaint, small town is at a possible risk if the railroad founders...all because of a gaggle of power-abusing and ruthless state employees of a 'historical society'. This is beyond dissapointing to say the least. However, it is vital to the local community that there's a steam railroad in operation; as long as its a safe railroad and well cared for; it doesn't matter if its locomotives hail from the Colorado & Southern, FI de CA, or what. The reason there's an uproar about the 111 is simply because it defies one of the CHS' reasons of the creation of their 'new' operation with "historical equipment". The three Shays and two FIdeCA Baldwins used on the line over the course of 30 years were certainly historical on a world level; as is the 111, and by that point on a Colorado level as well. However, CHS' opinion on 'historical' is focused on operations on the line as they were previous to its demise in the late 30s. It's the hypocrisy of it all.
I wish the best of luck to the Ashby/Greksa family and the former employees of the GLR Inc. with their future endeavors who have had to deal with this disgraceful mess, and to Peter Gores and Ron Trottier on their new operation. For everyone's sake, hope the CHS won't screw them over like they did with the GLR Inc. Like I said, some train (as long as its safe, and runs on steam) is better than no train. For the benefit of locals and all the work done by the Ashbys and friends in terms of the railroad line itself, the line's survival in some form is better than ceasing to exist altogether. I don't think anyone here is wishing a "fail, fail" on the new operation...any arguments presented here reflect concern for the current status, and the uncertainty between now and May 28th. I find the politics behind this fiasco pretty interesting, posted by Kerry Ann on the GeorgetownPolitics site, etc. If anyone doesn't like it, indeed, read on. That's one of the wonderful things about a messageboard, and why I no longer use e-mail groups.
I will be running a news brief in the next 'ON TRACK' webzine on the current status/news with the Loop site; if anyone here is up for helping me out with getting the facts down and straight with it, backchannel me off-list. One of the questions I had; the two drop-bottom gons which are at Silver Plume right now (and look pretty good to boot) rebuilt by Jason Midyette; is ownership under Railstar, or the CHS?
-Ed Kelley