Re: Successful Steam Excursion on C&TS: Timing! *LINK*

Hi, Greg -
As mentioned previously, TIMING is also important. Jay's trip was timed to CONFLICT with the RailFest in Durango. If his trip had been on the Monday or Tuesday BEFORE RailFest, he probably could have gotten a lot of riders - myself included - to travel one or two days sooner and include the C&TS as a warm-up to RailFest. After RailFest would be a distant second choice. Following five days of choo-choos, another day is over-kill.
With gas prices what they are these days - and no sign of dropping anytime soon - this is probably the best time to attract enough riders to make a go of it. Personally, I would prefer something at the height of fall colors - even with the added expense of a long drive or flight to get there - but crew availability at that time would probably be more of a challenge than at a less busy time of the year.
- Russo Loco
p.s. If the first C&TS photo freight had put the helper at the rear of the train from Chama to Cumbres, it would have looked more like what you describe. The helper then pulled a separate train from Cumbres to Big Horn & return, so appearance of the photo freight was not affected by the presence of rider cars. See the preview site below for our "Help Save #483" screen saver for a few shots of the Toltec Rattler ...