Re: Railfest was never a D&RGW Event
| August 07, 2006 05:42PM |
Don't give up the good fight William. A few of us do understand where you are coming from and see that preserving some of the historical fabric is important. Its important to see where you have been before you can see where you are going...I heard that someplace 
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Mike is right that its a D&S event, and in recent years they have been evolving more toward trying to do some historic things, but for the most part its still a D&S event. Look at their railfan photo special, its usually lettered D&S on the engine. Now some of the Charter trips are D&RGW but only a few of the regular trips on the D&S have anything but D&S lettering.
Most of the folks who do the Railfest outings are not your real super die-hard historical fans or photographers. They are mostly the types that just enjoy a train ride and get together with other fans, and are happy with just about anything that runs,especially if they get a few runbys tossed in, and the price is only slightly above the normal ticket price. 75% of those folks won't be on the hard-core photo specials that are limited to 40 guys and the details on the trains are more historical. I guess its a matter of "you get what you pay for".
I agree with you and Jerry, and Rod, and John Craft, and others who think that you don't have to "Sell-out" the historical aspects in the name of more business, and in fact we believe you can do both and not hurt the bottom line. If I believed the historical aspects of things on any given railroad would hurt their business, then I would not suggest it.
I will say again I think that one thing the D&S and the C&TS have going for them that is unique to most all other steam tourist lines is the fact that the historical engines that once ran on these tracks, are still there running today, and as such, lettering them D&RGW would be logical practice, despite the names on the railroad letterheads. In fact it could even be a selling point, especially at Durango. Heck they could use some of the original passenger cars that are left, and put together a totally authentic period train, and maybe offer it as a premium trip with the Rio Grande engine. Okay, I just made them some more money...where is my commission!!!" />
In reality I don't think the masses really care one way or the other, and I doubt any of them would put up a fuss over having the CORRECT, historical name on something.
As for history changing everyday, well yes thats true. On the Royal Gorge route it went from Rio Grande, to Southern Pacific, to Union Pacific. How do most folks remember it....surely not as SP!!!
Mike, should you put BNSF on the tender of your Number 9(former C&S)? Technically the C&S folded into the current BNSF did it not?
Don't get me wrong, I am not a rivit counter, but it sure is nice when some things get restored to look like they did during the era in which they are trying to protray. I would agree with Mike on one point, and I would rather see the old diamond stacks on the 470's, like I saw in the 60's, than a K36 in Yellow. But then again its their Railroad, so our opinions count as nothing.
Just my worthless cents....Oh by the way I do use a cane from time to time now, so watch it Mike!" />
Greg,hopalong,Scholl
" />Mike is right that its a D&S event, and in recent years they have been evolving more toward trying to do some historic things, but for the most part its still a D&S event. Look at their railfan photo special, its usually lettered D&S on the engine. Now some of the Charter trips are D&RGW but only a few of the regular trips on the D&S have anything but D&S lettering.
Most of the folks who do the Railfest outings are not your real super die-hard historical fans or photographers. They are mostly the types that just enjoy a train ride and get together with other fans, and are happy with just about anything that runs,especially if they get a few runbys tossed in, and the price is only slightly above the normal ticket price. 75% of those folks won't be on the hard-core photo specials that are limited to 40 guys and the details on the trains are more historical. I guess its a matter of "you get what you pay for".
I agree with you and Jerry, and Rod, and John Craft, and others who think that you don't have to "Sell-out" the historical aspects in the name of more business, and in fact we believe you can do both and not hurt the bottom line. If I believed the historical aspects of things on any given railroad would hurt their business, then I would not suggest it.
I will say again I think that one thing the D&S and the C&TS have going for them that is unique to most all other steam tourist lines is the fact that the historical engines that once ran on these tracks, are still there running today, and as such, lettering them D&RGW would be logical practice, despite the names on the railroad letterheads. In fact it could even be a selling point, especially at Durango. Heck they could use some of the original passenger cars that are left, and put together a totally authentic period train, and maybe offer it as a premium trip with the Rio Grande engine. Okay, I just made them some more money...where is my commission!!!
" />In reality I don't think the masses really care one way or the other, and I doubt any of them would put up a fuss over having the CORRECT, historical name on something.
As for history changing everyday, well yes thats true. On the Royal Gorge route it went from Rio Grande, to Southern Pacific, to Union Pacific. How do most folks remember it....surely not as SP!!!
Mike, should you put BNSF on the tender of your Number 9(former C&S)? Technically the C&S folded into the current BNSF did it not?
Don't get me wrong, I am not a rivit counter, but it sure is nice when some things get restored to look like they did during the era in which they are trying to protray. I would agree with Mike on one point, and I would rather see the old diamond stacks on the 470's, like I saw in the 60's, than a K36 in Yellow. But then again its their Railroad, so our opinions count as nothing.
Just my worthless cents....Oh by the way I do use a cane from time to time now, so watch it Mike!
" />Greg,hopalong,Scholl
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.