Rick_b,
The shop forces in Chama now (Jack Campbell and I are both gone) are indeed restoring a Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad locomotive. The #489 ceased to be a Rio Grande locomotive in 1970 when the "Grande" was able to sell it to the states along with several other engines and 64 miles of railroad. If they had not sold it they would certainly have scrapped it.
When railroads buy equipment from other railroads they put their own name on them. That is what railroads do!
The C&TS has run steam powered trains through from Antonito to Chama for 37 years now. In the Kyle days we also operated rotary snowplows to open the line in the spring when the snow required it. When the rotary broke or needed rebuilding we fixed it and rebuilt it. We were glad the railfans watched it and enjoyed the show, but we did it to get the line open and to get national publicity for the tourist business the "Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad". We ran an occasionally profitable steam powered railroad that the "Grande" had given up on. We did this with very little help from the states in those days. We only rarely got some money for capital improvements from New Mexico and Colorado.
When you think of yourself as a railroad you think how do we make enough money to stay in business. When you think of yourself as a museum your focus tends to go to getting someone to give you money. That’s great but free money has a way of drying up. If there are other big needs in either of the states then its bye bye grants and appropriations.
During most of the years I worked there the rail fans would come and chase the train and hang around the shop all day. When I asked did you ride yesterday or are you riding tomorrow they would say "Im just taking pictures we are going to ride the "Silverton". The flying Cumbres & Toltec was designed to give the feel of the "Rio Grande" while promoting the Cumbres & Toltec. It has the same size and visual mass as the flying Rio Grande for that reason. Its purpose was to help people remember when they got back to Iowa or California or Texas that the train they rode on their vacation was the Cumbres & Toltec.
I understand that some of you like John West, Lake Trump, and others saw, rode, and even worked on the Rio Grande. They miss it like I miss the RGS which I first rode. Be careful as it becomes a museum it will cease to be a "real" fire breathing railroad. Railroads are living things museums are places to look at and study dead things.
We were very proud of the work we did and the railroad we ran. Im certain the guys working there now feel the same way.
Sorry if this is rambling I don"t claim to be a writer. I fix steam locomotives.
John Bush