Robin:
I would say this has been a planned CHS changeover, if you look back to November 30 of last year (2006) W. Bart Berger took over as Chairman of the CHS board of directors (37 voting members). He replaced Philip H. Karsh who coincidentally served as CHS chairman since 2004 when the Loop changeover occurred. You can connect the dots...
I think this whole Loop mess has been an embarrassment to the CHS to say the least. As an organization as Jerry Day and others point out, the CHS has and continues to do many good services for Colorado’s historic preservation. Chalk it up to greed, politics, incompetence or just plain jealousy, the CHS ruined one of the most successful tourist railroad operations in the US.
Perhaps we will see some changes with the approach to the Loop with a new CHS hierarchy. Unfortunately the CHS’ cavalier behavior has been going on for way too many years to think that it will change overnight, especially if the direct management personnel of the Loop operations continue in their present capacities. If you want to effect change I suggest you write directly to Governor Bill Ritter or his chief of staff Jim Carpenter who can do something about the CHS if enough pressure is brought to bear.
Rod Jensen