I have to echo Rod and others view about this.
I have to say, it is wonderful that the FRIENDS do all that work to restore those old freight cars. I love seeing photo freights with the old Rio Grande consists. However, I have to ask myself, would that time be better spent working on something like these San Juan type of coaches?
Here are my reasons.
(1)The freight cars while nice to have, take up tons of work hours and money for lumber, etc, yet they rarely make an appearance anywhere other than Chama yard. Few photo freights are operated, and when they are, its usually a single engine train thus limiting freight cars to under 10. There are already probably 30 or more operational freight cars, and they aren't going anywhere it seems.
(2)As a past an possible future charter train operator, I would love to see a bunch of photo freights, but face it, they have been done, and places for riders on a freight train are scarce(Caboose doesn't hold many). The purist doesn't want outfit cars to hold the riders. The answer is a passenger train. A 5 coach San Juan train would be comfortable for the riders, and they would look correct.
(3) The beauty of recreating new San Juan Coaches, is that they could be dual-use. When not being used for special charters, they could be used in regular service as needed. Thus this helps the regular tourist train.
(4) At some point the C&TS is going to need to get more passenger cars, either to replace old and tired ones they have now, or to expand so they can expand service should the hoped-for rise in ridership occur.
(5) A "San Juan" type train could be operated as a regular train on the C&TS, once or twice a week as a premium train in addition to a charter train.
Again this is when the need arises to expand service. A dinner train with this consist might be one good idea.
(6) If the mission of the railroad is to "Preserve to Railroad", then they should make sure they know what they are preserving. I still make the arguement that more things should have the original railroad names and logos on them to complete this mission. There is nothing wrong with running the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad with RIO GRANDE lettered locomotives, and even some coaches or freight cars lettered D&RGW as well. That is true preservation. Instead of making freight cars that have D&RGW on them, that few people get to see operate, put some effort into the Passenger train that runs now! The engines would be a great start to any sort of future San Juan, and would be preserving the heritage of the railroad as it was intended.
I know, I know, its all about the communities and making money for them. Whatever the reason for the railroad, it can be the best of both worlds with what I am suggesting.
Okay I have used up my time and space for two months worth of posting, but since I didn't post for two months or more, credit my account please.
Before I forget, we released some more DVD's recently, including a Narrow gauge one of sorts.
"Garratts of Zimbabwe" Go to vintage DVD on our web site.
[www.gregschollvideo.com]
Steamingly,
Greg Scholl
