When I used to charter trains during the Kyle days, Earl Knoob referred to the Fall Color season as the Stock Rush. He priced it accordingly. We could charter a train at a reasonable rate in June, July or August, but if we wanted one in September or October we had to pay an arm and a leg. Earl was into yield management just like the airlines. Smart. For exactly the reason the C&TS faces here.
The most likely case is having made the committment, the C&TS will pull the helper off the passenger and run the passenger with one engine, limit the number of cars on the passenger, and probably sacrifice a whole bunch of passenger revenue in the process. Hopefully the reservation process already recognizes this. And also keep in mind not every train is doubleheaded during Fall Color.
Whether this is smart, or truly Fall Madness, all depends on how they have priced the charter. If they make enough money off the charter maybe they are money ahead. If not, well, it is just Madness.
JBWX