Scott:
I have no doubt that we would get along well, and probably see things very much alike in the final analysis. Ultimately I believe all of us are striving for the C&TS to be a sustainable heritage tourist RR. Unfortunately depending on the states for capital has proven to be problematic over the past 37 years. So my suggestion to grow the revenue is intended to make the RR less vulnerable to the states funding yoyo and make it a master of its own destiny. If you will indulge me a little further I will give a little more detail before I let this idea go.
I think I listed some of my basic assumptions some of which have been backed up by professionals in the tourist industry, comments here online and my own experience(s). First I argue that a full day trip as now offered is too long for the average tourist. A shorter trip time is what is preferred and also allows more options in scheduling. As John Bush notes, tourist RR’s are in the business of entertainment. Most tourists have a short attention span and would prefer to get in and out to the next destination sooner than later. The “Disneyland” part of the C&TS is the ride through the Gorge and any trip that doesn’t include this “main attraction” IMHO is not going to cut the mustard for the majority of riders. I am also making very “big” assumptions that an increase in riders is 1. possible with more marketing 2. the infrastructure in the towns can absorb more train riders per day and 3. the merchants and residents even want a change from the status quo.
I have done a little more what if with the San Juan (SJ) schedule and I think we are not that far from a realistic schedule.
My premise is 1 train set/ crew operating a roundtrip from Chama and Antonito daily. Each train departs at 8AM from their respective terminals. Based on the SJ schedule (50 mins.) and concurrence from El Coke, Antonito to Big Horn with improved track can be done in less than 1 hour and I don’t think I get much argument on this segment for speeding things up.
Then if we look at the Chama end the SJ was 57 mins uphill and 50 mins. down from Cumbres. With track upgrades I think one hour+ is doable. So now we have 2 hours elapsed time and the remaining 31 miles to cover between Cumbres and Big Horn for the “big” attractions. Osier being the approximate mid point would still most likely be the meeting point for the Eastbound and Westbound trains. SJ run time was 1 hour and 33 minutes EB between Cumbres and Big Horn and just 5 mins. faster in the WB direction. So to get the WB into Chama for lunch we need a 2 hour run time between Big Horn and Cumbres. That gives 1 ½ hours to turn and service the train in Chama before it departs at 1:30PM for Antonito. A balloon loop like is available in Antonito would be a big plus obviously in speeding this turnaround. With a return bus trip of one hour passengers can still make connections on either end giving them more options.
Looking at the current schedule the actual train ride WB is 5 hours and 5 mins. while EB it is 5 hours and 30 mins. (Osier lunch stop adds one hour to each trip). So what I am proposing is squeezing one hour from the current train operations to get to a 4+ hour ride in each direction (no lunch stop). Dream, pie in the sky or what ever you want to say, it makes sense to me from a utilization and revenue standpoint. With a 5th C&TS locomotive coming online in 2008 let’s use the D&S as a benchmark since they also have 5 steam locomotives in service this season. The cost of maintaining K-36’s then is roughly the same in Durango or Chama. Look at what a return the D&S is getting per locomotive per passenger per day. The C&TS can help themselves and become less dependent on the states if they can become more efficient and move more passengers. They are well on the way to being able to do this so hopefully the capital will continue to flow to make the improvements necessary. I think if I was the legislature I would be a lot more receptive to continued capital funding if the RR showed me a better ROI by growing the revenue like I have proposed.
OK I think I have given you guy’s sufficient rope to hang me with so take your best shot and hopefully we can find some common ground to help the RR continue to prosper.
Rod
