And saving the best for last, here is my letter to Nichols:
30 September 2007
Mr. Ed Nichols, President/CEO
Colorado Historical Society
1300 Broadway
Denver, CO80203
RE: Georgetown Loop
Dear Mr. Nichols,
As a fourth-generation Coloradoan, I am writing to express in the strongest possible terms my outrage at the conduct of the Society in its handling of the Georgetown Loop Railroad in recent years. Once again, one of Colorado's premier tourist attractions—under the direction of the Society—has tottered to a halt, having managed to conduct actual tourist train operations for roughly half of the season. This is the third dismal year of Loop operations under the Society, following the Society's ill-advised 2004 discharge of the previous operator of 31 years, an operator who built the Loop into a world-class attraction. Not only has the non-availability of train service disappointed thousands of Colorado visitors, it has turned the State into the object of scorn, ridicule and derision in the blogsphere, nationwide and worldwide. The existing situation negatively impacts not only the finances of the Society, but those of the businesses of Clear Creek County as well. Indeed, I think the last three years of Loop operation have been ruinous to the State of Colorado in general.
Yes, I have a dog in this fight. I helped lay some of the first rail in the rebuilding of the Loop back in 1972-73, and I fired steam locomotives the first few seasons. I was there every weekend in the early 1980s to document on film the reconstruction of the Devil's Gate Viaduct. I made a point of riding the train at least once every season for 31 years—that is, until the end of 2004. You can imagine my disgust at the way the railroad is being currently operated. I will no longer ride the train, nor will I recommend the Loop experience to anyone, visitor or resident. This is not simply a matter of protest; it is a matter of real concern about the safety of the current train service. I have conveyed that concern to the Federal Railway Administration.
The discharge of the previous operator had virtually no basis in fact; it was, in my opinion, the hubris and (perhaps) greed of the two CHS stiff members closest to the day-to-day affairs of the Loop, Mr. Joseph Bell and Mr. Lee Behrens, most likely aided and abetted by your immediate predecessor. These two individuals have cause so much grief for the Society, the Loop railroad, Clear Creek County, and the State that, if they are not to be discharged, they should at least be severely disciplined and reassigned where they can do not further damage.
The current season is now beyond redemption. It is therefore time that the Society begin to look forward to the 2008 season by doing a complete about-face. There is an old saying that goes, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it!” Yes, the Society will have to “eat crow” in inviting the previous operator back. But I don't think that the humiliation will be any greater than the Bronx cheers the Society is currently experiencing as blunder after blunder at the Loop continues to come to light. The do-it-yourself party is over. It is not too soon to begin a major change in direction, before whatever credibility and viability the Loop has remaining is destroyed forever. You know what has to be done. It may be a little unpleasant—but do it!
Sincerely,
Michael A. Rowe.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/2007 06:39PM by mikerowe.
