Bill,
You know what is kind of weird about that, is that we had the same experience when we tried to ride the Loop in 2004. The schedule was a little confusing anyway, but we arrived at Silver Plume easily enough, and there was someone who I guess was the depot agent standing on the platform smoking a pipe and glaring. Tim said he'd park the truck while we got tickets, and the man on the platform responded "No you won't you missed the train." and went back to smoking his pipe and glaring. We asked if it was possible to catch it at the other station and he said "You might." He didn't say anything about the train running the next day, offer to give us a brochure, explain the schedule, or give directions to Devil's Gate. Just smoked and glared. So we got back in the truck and went to watch the train smoke up the valley from the overlook. That is my memory of the Loop before CHS took over.
All the rest of the lines we toured were fantastic though, and as you said, very friendly.
Thanks, Taylor