Re: patience might be in order here

The issue here isn't Jay, it is how do you run the number of trains committed to with the available power (and maybe crews). If I remember correctly Chama Steam was run after the end of the season. Different issues. Even if the 489 were available, the original plan here would seem to have had a high likelihood of requiring two doubleheaded trains in one day (assuming a doubleheaded passenger, a likelihood during Fall Color). Doable, but only with some creative scheduling. And why take that kind of strain.

My view is simply that C&TS has gotten into a bad habit of committing to charters during the Fall Color rush. And this is not new. I know Kyle would not do it at any (reasonable) price. It was started by either Bartholomew or RGRPC, for I believe TUT.

Given the amount of demand from regular passengers during the Fall Color season, I just don't understand why the railroad caves into tour operators who want to charter trains then. If you price it right they will beg to do their charters when you have plenty of capacity in July, August, or early September.

I've never been able to figure out why what was so obvious to Kyle has not been equally obvious to Bartholomew, RGRPC-1, RGRPC-2 or now CSTMC. Yes, you can price it to make money, but even if the folks pay the price you're putting a huge strain on your folks.

But if I'm so smart, they'd ask my advice, so obviously I'm missing something.

JBWX



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2007 09:20PM by John West.