September 21, 2005 03:43PM
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As usual I side with Jerry to a large degree on this issue, so at least I am consistant.
The arguement that the railfans don't pay the bills is not entirely true. I consider anyone reading this board a railfan, otherwise why would they give a hoot about NG trains!!!! So, everyone on hear is a potential rider, and if we take away all the REAL railfans, then you would see even larger deficits.
There might be more railfans interested, if the railroad would cater to that crowd IN ADDITION to the tourist crowd. Now here we are in a shortfall, and had prices been a bit more reasonable there may have been more railfan charters this year. Instead there is only going to be one....The Trains Unlimited, and I think they cancelled one in spring. Now that they need revenue, there are less trains operating, and no charters either for that matter.
I still think they can make the railroad more historically accurate and promote that aspect of things. It may not sway every tourist, but it will sink in to those that feel the history is worth checking out. Its more than JUST A TRAIN ride. The railroad has great historical value being that these engines used to run on these same tracks years ago and thats RARE!!!!
I have never understood why folks would up and move to Chama to try to get rich off the tourist business generated by the C&TS. It has only topped 60,000 riders once, and those numbers were questionable. While I sympathize with the merchants, I am not entirely surprised that the seasonal revenue has not grown over the years.
The reason many other railroads survive, is that they have a lot of volunteer labor, and much of the operating revenue can be used for capitol improvemenst. Not so on the C&TS. I bet 80% of the expenditures are labor costs. I think this is the biggest problem, but I also don't see any way to remedy the situation.
The other main problem is projecting revenue is like someone else said, just a guess!!! A crap shoot! After September 11th, fire seasons, and high gas prices, nobody should forecast great thins for ticket sales. If the numbers go up, then great, you are ahead of the game, but I think counting on revenue before it happens is a recipe for disaster. Most businesses have to show a profit, I know I do, or I am looking for other work!!!
I sure hope things will get better, but I can't say I am real optimistic unless some great windfall hits the C&TS bank accounts!
Greg Scholl
Subject |
Author |
Posted |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 06:14PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 19, 2005 06:28PM |
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Rich Muth |
September 19, 2005 07:04PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 19, 2005 07:16PM |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 07:29PM |
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John Cole |
September 19, 2005 07:50PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 20, 2005 08:20AM |
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Kevin K. |
September 20, 2005 10:23AM |
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Jerry Day |
September 20, 2005 10:41AM |
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Steve Singer |
September 20, 2005 11:44AM |
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Herb Kelsey |
September 20, 2005 05:04PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 08:18AM |
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Don Richter |
September 21, 2005 08:29AM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 08:49AM |
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Don Richter |
September 21, 2005 11:04AM |
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John Fisher |
September 21, 2005 12:30PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 12:44PM |
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"RAWHIDE" |
September 21, 2005 01:33PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 01:44PM |
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John Kyler |
September 21, 2005 01:45PM |
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Greg Scholl |
September 21, 2005 03:43PM |
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Craig Kumler |
September 21, 2005 05:53PM |
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Greg Scholl |
September 21, 2005 06:59PM |
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Russ Sperry |
September 23, 2005 08:09PM |
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John Kyler |
September 21, 2005 01:26PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 01:36PM |
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John Kyler |
September 21, 2005 01:50PM |
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Steve Stockham |
September 21, 2005 02:30PM |
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rick b |
September 22, 2005 12:18PM |
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Greg Scholl |
September 21, 2005 03:49PM |
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Jerry Day |
September 21, 2005 04:48PM |
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Bryan Laue |
September 21, 2005 11:09PM |
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Dick Seelye |
September 19, 2005 07:52PM |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 08:40PM |
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John Frank |
September 19, 2005 07:56PM |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 08:24PM |
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RichB |
September 19, 2005 08:34PM |
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John Frank |
September 19, 2005 08:42PM |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 09:01PM |
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Chile John |
September 19, 2005 09:42PM |
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roger hogan |
September 19, 2005 09:47PM |
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frank martindell |
September 20, 2005 11:06AM |
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Bill Kepner |
September 20, 2005 07:55AM |
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Craig LeVay |
September 20, 2005 08:27AM |
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Craig Kumler |
September 20, 2005 11:19AM |
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frank martindell |
September 20, 2005 11:08AM |
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John Cole |
September 20, 2005 12:45PM |
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Linn W. Moedinger |
September 20, 2005 06:21AM |
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Tom Stewart |
September 20, 2005 10:56AM |
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Don Richter |
September 20, 2005 11:15AM |
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John West |
September 20, 2005 11:25AM |
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Chile John |
September 20, 2005 11:40AM |
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roger hogan |
September 20, 2005 12:06PM |
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Rod Jensen |
September 20, 2005 12:30PM |
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John West |
September 20, 2005 12:56PM |
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Yosemite Sam |
September 20, 2005 01:35PM |
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Don Richter |
September 20, 2005 02:25PM |
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RichB |
September 20, 2005 03:33PM |
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John Cole |
September 20, 2005 04:15PM |
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Chama-Antonito business hours |
September 21, 2005 02:11PM |
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Mark Valerius |
September 21, 2005 02:23PM |
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Paul Gibbs |
September 20, 2005 04:24PM |
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Cal Smith |
September 20, 2005 09:21PM |
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RG |
September 21, 2005 02:06PM |
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Greg Scholl |
September 21, 2005 03:53PM |
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Jerry |
September 21, 2005 07:36PM |
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J.B.Bane |
September 22, 2005 09:20AM |
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Russ Sperry |
September 23, 2005 06:57PM |
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dan |
September 23, 2005 09:00PM |
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Jerry |
September 23, 2005 09:59PM |
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RBrinton |
September 24, 2005 08:11AM |
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J.B.Bane |
September 24, 2005 09:25AM |
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dan |
September 24, 2005 10:50AM |
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roger hogan |
September 20, 2005 04:03PM |
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Steve Stockham |
September 20, 2005 05:42PM |
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roger hogan |
September 20, 2005 08:42PM |
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Herb Kelsey |
September 21, 2005 01:47PM |
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John West |
September 22, 2005 12:42AM |
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dan |
September 22, 2005 02:56PM |
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John West |
September 22, 2005 03:25PM |
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dan |
September 22, 2005 05:31PM |
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Russ Sperry |
September 23, 2005 07:16PM |
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John West |
September 23, 2005 09:14PM |
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Chile John |
September 24, 2005 08:05AM |
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Mik |
September 22, 2005 03:26PM |
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Steve Singer |
September 22, 2005 04:05PM |
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John Cole |
September 22, 2005 05:05PM |
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John West |
September 22, 2005 05:10PM |
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Hobosteve |
September 23, 2005 04:26AM |
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Charles |
September 23, 2005 10:35AM |
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Jerry Day |
September 23, 2005 12:15PM |
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Russ Sperry |
September 23, 2005 07:34PM |
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Herb Kelsey |
September 26, 2005 11:16PM |
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Herb Kelsey |
September 26, 2005 11:21PM |
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Philip Walters |
September 27, 2005 08:03AM |
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John Cole |
September 27, 2005 01:39PM |
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Fritz Klinke |
September 27, 2005 06:13PM |
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Philip Walters |
September 28, 2005 08:33AM |
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Russ Sperry |
September 27, 2005 11:40PM |
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Philip Walters |
September 29, 2005 06:52PM |
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Bob Jennings |
September 23, 2005 05:24AM |
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Herb Kelsey |
September 26, 2005 11:35PM |
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Rod Jensen |
September 26, 2005 11:56PM |
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Curt Bianchi |
September 27, 2005 08:29AM |
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Rod Jensen |
September 27, 2005 11:01AM |
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Curt Bianchi |
September 27, 2005 11:53AM |
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