Charter Freights

One of the challenges for the Friends is maintaining the capability of running charter freights, especially prototypical freights (1950-60's style) with relatively long trains and helpers. I'm a photographer, and chasing those kinds of trains is my passion. The historic freight fleet is getting old and the wooden underframe cars are less and less up to the strain. Moreover, the trainhandling skills need to be preserved. The loss of folks like Earl, Tom Atkinson, and Gerald don't help here. But folks like Marvin, Jeff, Carlos, Jeremy, and Coker can keep up the tradition. I'm relatively optimistic that some combination of attention by RGRPC mechanical folks, Friends work sessions, and engineer training will continue to make it possible. I took a picture of an eastbound 70 car freight stretched around Los Pinos curve in the early 60's. Hopefully that picture can become a goal for the Friends, to be able to recreate such a picture in the 21st century. That would be some kind of terrific historic preservation. But it will take money and effort, so those who would like to see it happen might think about how they can help....money is fine, but work on the cars is even better, since maintaining the historic fleet is not part of RGRPC's job. It's up to volunteers largely.
With regard to the charter on October 20-21, there is no plan for a two engine train....but who know what might happen at the last minute.