Welcome to Colorado, Steve.
As you've come to realize there are those of us who, as ColoradOAns, are fiercely defensive of what we've come to perceive as dwindling historical resources. When one looks at the situation today it may be hard to understand how we came to be like this since we now have "so much". My generation and the one before it witnessed the carelessness of wholesale destruction of our heritage. The State once boasted dozens of Narrow Gauge Companies and hundereds of ng locomotives. They were all private enterprises that depended, much of the time, on a temporal if not shakey industry - mineral mining. As that desolved away so did most of these roads. Only a few relics were saved and, in fact, railroads often offered pieces of equipment for preservation - with NO takers. To this very day there are historical artifacts that are in danger of destruction because they are "in the way" and no one has stepped up to insist they be saved. Thankfully there is far more awareness of our heritage (which is to some degree the envy of the world) and todays Colorado railfan who is often equally an historian does care.
That's the picture now here is the reason for it; it is perhaps a bit difficult for us to put on and fully appreciate the entertainers hat. Sometimes we forget that we need one to save the other. In our enthusiasm it might be difficult to balance this truth. We mean no harm, we are perhaps just a bit myopic. The truth is we are all thrilled with what has happened in Silver Plume this spring and summer. Forgive us if we have sounded less than appreciative.
All that you took the time to share is understood and appreciated. As someone else said I don't think anyone is unhappy with Railstar, the CHS and the fact that Nine is alive and well. As I've said already, in six months all of these little details will likely be resolved. Who will care? Probably not the toureestos. But those of us who lacking the funds to do so ourselves made our voices known and called for the preservation of what was so likely lost forever.
I can tell you that amongst those toureestos is the occational railfan and historian. It may be a small reward, but I hope it brings joy to you to know that, when these people come and ride the train, they walk away with a sense of, "wow! They really got it right!"
*Thumbs UP*
Derrell