Non operation into Creede has nothing to do with economic potential.
Creede residents portray themselves as a bunch of tree-hugging @#$%&'s who have so far commandeered the Creede Yard (without Railroad permission) and made a park out of it. They are doing their level best to prevent rail operation into Creede ever again. All this in spite of the fact that the Railroad owns the right-of-way, rail, ties, facilities, etc.
I guess that they feel that they are the GOd-given saviours of Creede and that they want to put up a turnstile and only allow the ordained few to pass into and out of their personal domain.
I wonder how many of them hail from outside of Colorado.
Rick