This is sort of what I predicted with Peak Oil starting and the gradual runup of gasoline prices that even in prairie areas are running over $3.00 a gallon and will continue to go up. There is no other way for it. We are just seeing the start of the end of our way of life because of plateauing and quicker than you think decline in World field production and distillation into automotive fuels..
When gasoline and diesel go to $6-8-10 a gallon, how much tourism will be going on? We will wish we had all those rural branch lines that the majors abandoned...we will need them again just to supply and haul food and fiber...town that depend on over the road haulage are will not fare well.
The merchants of Durango and Chama are feeling the first tingling effects of the end of the age of oil and the money that came with it.
People will come to see the trains, ride the trains, etc. for awhile but superfluous expense will not be done.
I just finished in June a 5,800 mile trip by small 4 cylinder truck driving 50-55 mph on a 4 cyclinder and it still cover over $600 in gasoline on looking at narrow gauge remains in Arizona and Nevada. The roads were devoid of many out of state vehicles (i.e. people from Virginia, Carolina or New York are not driving this far..they are flying and renting a car at the destination..flying will go away when kerosene/aviation spirit become prohibitive)
Can you imagine the high powered many cylindered (Ford Expeditions and Toyota Tundras) fuel bills if they do a partial cross country trip..just to ride trains....knickknack tourist shops are the first to suffer and next will be restaurants and motels.
Talked to a businessman friend in Sedona who I know well and who has been there for 40 years and business in that tourist area was off 50% this spring even with Phoenix not far away.
Take your pictures while you can...some of these places will be inaccessible in about 5-8 years or less because of fuel prices.
