Re: Chama progress report - now questions

Rich, I'm looking forward to finding out what a spud liner is, too - sounds like what we call a "potato skin" in the east, or is it Aluminum Foil?
As to reservations, current tally is around 4,850 tickets sold already. We are hoping that number reaches 5,000 by the time of the Commission meeting on the 16th - that would be a nice round number to report. Like John W. said, we don't have any historical data to compare it with, but Rosella Valdez (who has worked winters for several years taking reservations) says this winter is the busiest she's ever seen. I find that encouraging. Parlour Car reservations are indeed running strong, and we have a very special reservation on May 27th (a wedding party), so the cars WILL be ready. (I hope . . . " />
This week Marvin expects to have finished with the ten cars needing the most work (new floors, new restroom fixtures, underframe work, etc.) - he's preparing 512 for a new concession counter, and converting 502 in a like manner (removing 22 seats to put in a concession counter). Friends Board member Roger Briggs is building two very nice counters for the cars. That leaves the Parlour Cars to finish, and the remaining "Antonito Cars" to check over (mainly truck lubrication and upholstery). He's right on schedule.
There's nothing up on the September 23 Photo Special yet because John W. and I haven't sat down with Dan to discuss the plans we've kicked around. It's still six months away, and Dan's been kind of busy (and THAT's the understatement of the year). (We're not behind, though - I had lunch with the VP-Marketing of the D&S last month, and they haven't decided anything either.) I hope we get something up on the website by May 1, and we will be doing some joint marketing with the D&S and the Heber Valley this summer. In the meantime, to register your interest go to the "request a brochure" page, fill it out, and reference the photo special in the comments. Rosella's keeping a file of interested people.
This is also a good time to mention "The Preservation Explorer," this year's Friends special traditionally scheduled between the June work sessions (June 23 this year). In the past these trips have been mixed trains for the purpose of photo runbys; this year the Friends are operating a passenger train, and stopping at major restoration sites for a short tour and presentation on the work done there over the last decade or so. The train will leave Chama and stop at Cumbres, then proceed to Sublette for a lunch stop while the loco is turned at Big Horn. On the way back the train will stop at Osier for the last of the tours. (There will be a couple of photo runbys as well.) Information for the trip will be contained in the work session packages, and a general mailing will go out later as well. The trip is open to the public, not just Friends members, but tickets should be ordered via Albuquerque, not Chama, when they go on sale. Tickets will be $45 if you're registered for a work session, $60 for members not volunteering this year, and $65 for non-members.
All in all, it's coming together nicely, though there's still a long way to go before Opening Day. I hope you all attend - we'll be dedicating the Parlour Cars, recognizing two people who have made long-term contributions to the preservation of the railroad, and having a great time.
JAC