Carlos, didn't your grandfather work for the D&RGW. Would he be in favor of red coaches to typify the era in which he worked on this railroad. I doubt it. I realize you employees have no say in it, as you said. Yes it is stunning, bright and all that, but its not very realistic.
I think it would be more historic to paint them Grande gold, like the D&S. At least trains that ran over Cumbres from Alamosa to Durango starting in about 1954-56 were of this color as they changed from Green to Gold. Since we don't seem to care what they were in regular service(Green when San Juan ran), then Gold would be the color when the railroad was abandoned in 1968. Go with that. If it happens to be the same as the D&S, then so what!!!! This line of thinking might actually make sense....but wait then it won't be adopted for sure! (:
Maybe I can skip C&TS this year after all.
I do have a sepia tone filter on my editing equipment, so I could use that to mute the color of the coaches. Or better yet, I can ride the train enjoy the scenery, and leave the next day without unpacking the video gear until I get to Durango. At least their coaches are the color that RIO GRANDE had in the 50's and 60's!!!!
Seriously though, I can see they are trying to make the train more attractive. The green coaches are rather drab. However, I sure hate to see the history get tossed aside that quickly. They aren't that desperate yet are they!!! I guess they have to justify all those million dollar engine rehabs with gobs of customers. Heck instead of this idea, why not try some pasenger service...some shorter runs. Most of the kids can't handle an all day journey. Two Cumbres turns a day might be good to remedy that.
I know a guy with two young girls who would be willing to ride the train if it were a 2-3 hour trip, cause the attention spans just are not there for railroads at that age. Makes perfect sense. If you are going to go after the sheep then you need to herd them better, not flash pretty colors at them! Sorry to vent, but I see yet another aspect of the history of the railroad slipping into oblivion! It makes me angry when the railroad flashes the history card in advertising, then changes things to meet their current needs and history is forgotten all too quickly!! What ever happened to the Friends of the C&TS? I thought they were supposed to remedy this stuff!!! Come on folks....do the right thing here!
Greg Scholl
