From Richard Tower
Figures from the reservation system give us the opportunity to take a closer look at the ridership patterns on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad for the season just ended. The system accounts for 38,460 riders on regularly-scheduled trains, very close to the 38,483 season total from the conductors' headcounts of passengers carried on each train. (Note: these figures do not include the 1,156 passengers carried on special and charter trains.)
Of the 38,460 total, 15,896 (41.3%) boarded in Antonito and 22,564 (58.7%) boarded in Chama. Average ridership per train was 165.
27,003 (70.2%) took the through trip across the entire railroad, 10,345 (26.9%) rode to Osier and back, while 1,112 (2.9%) took the Chama-Cumbres & return "Cinder Bear" rides. Interestingly, the number of passengers taking the through trip from Antonito was almost exactly the same as the number from Chama (13,542 vs. 13,461). However, passengers taking the Osier round trip preferred the Chama departure by a margin of over 3 to 1 (7,991 vs. 2,354).
10.4% of the passengers were children.
9.7% of passengers (3718) rode the Parlor Car. For the season, 72.9% of the parlor car seats were occupied leaving Antonito and 86.6% leaving Chama, for a combined occupancy rate of 79.8%.
There were 11 caboose charters.
21,885 passengers used the C&TS buses. This accounts for 81.0% of passengers taking through trips. Most of the remaining through passengers were from tour groups, which used their own buses. 69.7% of bus passengers boarded the train in the morning and returned by bus in the afternoon. Only 30.3% used the morning bus and returned by train. 54.4% of bus passengers boarded their bus in Antonito, 45.6% in Chama. A further breakdown of bus travel is as follows: Antonito morning bus: 2,329; Antonito afternoon bus 9,586; Chama morning bus 4,295; Chama afternoon bus 5,675. Bus revenue was $270,483, which more than paid for the bus charter costs.
A full revenue accounting is not yet available. The budget forecast for the season was 32,500 passengers at $64.34 apiece for a total revenue estimate of $2,091,050. It appears total revenue will exceed $2,625,800 ($68.27 per passenger), not including revenue from charter trains.
Richard Tower
Secretary-Treasurer
C&TS Management Corp.
Why they post this on the 'Goat' vs something legitimate I will never understand.
