That is great that the work is being done right and not rushed to make a deadline. I am glad it will not be at the convention as that is considered so special, all the engine will be dorn with flags and such so that the normal hot and active steamer will not be the common sight.
Some day it will just be fantastic to see the #315 move about the yard as the common switcher doing the job of putting the private cars or caboose onto a train. With black handrails and Without any special flags or bunting.
And then some day in the distant future, it might haul a entire train load of box car campers up to Elk Park or Cascade to move in a Narrow Gauge Convention that will be held and roomed in Elk Park or Al'Wilderness Lodge under a tent. Connecting service from Silverton will be supplied with a fleet of Gueese from everywhere.
Now that the locomotive is rebuilt and privatly owned, why not start building new private cars and camper boxcars out of the box car fleet and make enough for full trains of private cars. The railroad and wilderness area is large enought to handle thousands of passenger up in the mountains each night. Note: ADDED REVENUE TO THE RR!
The D&S single camper-boxcar is the most untold story on the railroad. And why is it only one car that is booked months ahead?