Re: Chama Visitor's Center and Covered Storage in Yard
| September 18, 2007 11:07AM |
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A couple of points come to mind.
First the suggestion of rebuilding a "San Juan." As someone pointed out above, most tourists wouldn't know the difference between the clerestory cars currently in use and a restored San Juan. Additionally, from an operating standpoint, this makes no sense. San Juan cars were considerably more heavy than the light cars currently in use and hauled a lot less people. If you are going to rebuild it, you want it to be like the San Juan, inside and out, and that means 28 seat lounge coaches, not 48 seat cars like they are on the Silverton. A locomotive can only handle four or five of these cars over the hill vs. the eight car trains of converted 6500 series flat/coaches. Then there is the window size. If you've ridden in a coach on the Silverton you know those cars are not that great for seeing the scenery. C&TS's big windowed cars are much better for the tourists.
Face it, the only people who want to see a San Juan set running again (and I am one) are the fans who don't want to ride it but just take pictures of it!
On the subject of the covered storage being at Antonito: If this were done do you really think that a "for profit" railroad operation is going to actually haul the "display cars" back to Chama for the Summer and over to Antonito each Winter? Maybe if a charter could be run, one way. Otherwise they would rot out in Antonito and never come "home" to the Chama yards.
As far as the interpretive center is concerned, if it is properly done it can be something that not only enhances the experience but looks like it belongs there. Could a well built "Rio Grande style" building be any less of an eye sore than a parking lot full of RV's? But no one complains about the fact that it isn't "historically correct" to have 200 21st century vehicles parked next to the yards and all around the depot.
And regarding the paint holding up, is anyone mixing linseed oil with that stuff?
OK, putting away the soapbox and putting on the asbestos pants.
First the suggestion of rebuilding a "San Juan." As someone pointed out above, most tourists wouldn't know the difference between the clerestory cars currently in use and a restored San Juan. Additionally, from an operating standpoint, this makes no sense. San Juan cars were considerably more heavy than the light cars currently in use and hauled a lot less people. If you are going to rebuild it, you want it to be like the San Juan, inside and out, and that means 28 seat lounge coaches, not 48 seat cars like they are on the Silverton. A locomotive can only handle four or five of these cars over the hill vs. the eight car trains of converted 6500 series flat/coaches. Then there is the window size. If you've ridden in a coach on the Silverton you know those cars are not that great for seeing the scenery. C&TS's big windowed cars are much better for the tourists.
Face it, the only people who want to see a San Juan set running again (and I am one) are the fans who don't want to ride it but just take pictures of it!
On the subject of the covered storage being at Antonito: If this were done do you really think that a "for profit" railroad operation is going to actually haul the "display cars" back to Chama for the Summer and over to Antonito each Winter? Maybe if a charter could be run, one way. Otherwise they would rot out in Antonito and never come "home" to the Chama yards.
As far as the interpretive center is concerned, if it is properly done it can be something that not only enhances the experience but looks like it belongs there. Could a well built "Rio Grande style" building be any less of an eye sore than a parking lot full of RV's? But no one complains about the fact that it isn't "historically correct" to have 200 21st century vehicles parked next to the yards and all around the depot.
And regarding the paint holding up, is anyone mixing linseed oil with that stuff?
OK, putting away the soapbox and putting on the asbestos pants.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.