"the little Baldwin did just fine most of the season on her own, as anyone who objectively watched the situation would agree."
A bold assumption. As a paying passenger with steam experience (and with no connection whatsoever to the former operation), I would have to disagree. While I have heard of work being done on it at a later date, I was vacationing in Colorado in late June of last year and unfortunately was rather surprised and shocked at the new CHS/Railstar Loop operation. I watched in amazement as the little engine worked hard, with the diesel whining away. Listening to the thing in the corner the whole way was amazing, and I'll never forget it for three reasons: #1: The sound was awesome. Never have I heard an engine work so hard. #2: On the Devil's Gate bridge, the train came to a halt as the engine blew down. The wind blew all the condensed water back over the train, making me and other passengers rather damp and chilly on that somewhat blustery day. #3. Right before the top of the hill, the train stopped, and the fireman had the fire cranked up and smoking, with the blower hissing away. The engineer and fireman both had their injectors running full bore, and during this, the safety went off with the stack still emitting thick smoke. Once (as I can only figure) they had enough water to crest the hill, they continued on, engine pounding away in the corner.
I sure wish I visited a year or two earlier...