I know it's late, but I just had to write. So many folks have been good this year--and a few pretty naughty--that I wanted to bring a few of them to your attention. So, while you're loading up the sleigh, please consider the following.

1. An operator for the C&TS. Gosh, Santa, if you haven't crunched cinders under your boots at Chama and then watched those little guys straining to reach the summit at Cumbres, then wind around back and forth all day on the CO/NM state line, you just haven't lived. It's as close as any of us will ever get to going back in time to visit a mountain railroad in the 1920s. So, please, Santa, an operator, please, and one who cares, who plows money back into the railroad, who is good with business--and to help 'em--lots of snow in the San Juans this winter.

2. A lump, no make that a tenderful, of coal for the insurance folks. I know they have to make a living and I don't argue with that, but gouging their customers when their stock portfoilos tank isn't cool. It's also not cool to jack up the rates when their customers' business is down, their costs are up and all those expensive Part 230 rules have come to play. I'm sure this must keep 'em awake at night, so throw in some Sominex.

3. Some sort of resolution for the EBT. Yes, I know we're hung up on the little guys. But they're so well preserved that they deserve salvation that will last into eternity. I mean the EBT is the C&TS East or the C&TS is the EBT West... well, you get the picture. I'm not sure exactly what to ask for. The owner seems to really like the railroad but doesn't seem to be ready to relinquish control just yet. There are folks who would pay him some money for the line and put it in the hands of a non-profit. So I guess we're looking at salvation, plain and simple, in whatever form it takes.

4. A bunch of steam in Baltimore next June. Gosh, the B&O was such a great railroad and CSX is always taking good care of the B&O Museum, so perhaps you can help them see fit to give us one more great gathering of Iron Horses in honor of the 175th. Going to Sacramento in 1999 was just about the most fun you could have with your clothes on. You couldn't turn swining a spike mall and not hit a steam dome. So how about one more shot... the "first great steam gathering of the New Millennium" sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Besides, it would be fun to see Sandy eat crow at Mount Claire.

5. The time and the money to put together some neat engines that are in the shops... the Climax at Cass the Mountain State boys are fixing... Sierra 3 in California... the K4 in Scranton. All of 'em are pretty cool engines that need a lot of work but deserve to run again. Oh, and there's also a pretty SR 2-8-0 in Spencer that used to run there and was even overhauled in the Back Shop.... nah, nah, nah, on second, thought, I hate to ask for something for myself. But....

6. A set of "how to run a business" books for the guys in Altoona. I finally got there in October and they've got a wonderful museum... one of the best anywhere. The one-time biggest shop town in the country should have a great museum, scores of visitors, etc. Help 'em, Santa, to get it right next year. I'd hate to see us lose that one.

7. A new cylinder saddle for the SP engine in Austin, a new boiler course for 722 in Dillsboro, a set of tubes for Heber Valley 75 in Utah, and a good home for that SP Mogul that was rebuilt in Louisiana. Man, those are some fine engines... oops, sorry, got back on those steam engines again, didn't I. Didn't mean too, but they are the railroading of the heart for me, and a lot of other folks too.

8. A case of footlong hotdogs to Andy Nold and his Jolly Trolley Guys and Girls at McKinney Ave. Trolley in Dallas for putting on a fine ARM meeting in October. Send whatever you can spare to toss to the guys and gals at St. Louis and Hutington to make their ARM and TRAIN meetings next year extra special. Getting together and talking with each other and having a few refreshing cold beverages is a fine thing. Maybe Molly knows somebody at Anheiser-Busch, and she does have that beer boxcar....

9. A magic "uninvisibility potion." An IMAX film, a piece in Preservation Magazine or something on a national level to give "the industry" a little higher profile. Sometimes we're just so invisible that it hurts. This is pretty cool stuff, with drama, and great pictures and real people... I'm just amazed we don't get more publicity.

10. People. Send enough volunteers and staff to do all the things we need and want to and enough visitors and passengers to make it all worthwhile. It takes a group of hard working, caring people to do what we do, and it's hard. But if you've ever seen a kid's face light up when you roll by him on the steam engine you're firing... well, you get the picture...it's just like Christmas morning.

Happy holidays to us one and all!

Sincerely,
Jimmy

That's all I can think of right now. I'm sure something else will come up later.

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

Dear Jim,

Thank you for taking the time to write me so early in the season. Don't blame me if I cut tubes too short. I could use some help this time of year, especially from you choo choo boys. Lionels were hard enough, and now you want cylinder saddles?

How about we make a deal? I will sprinkle some magic cinder on the good and shove some clinker up the bad if you and your friends agree to be my surrogate elves in 2003 and help me out.

OK?

Let's make this deal...

> 1. An operator for the C&TS.

Jim, I will do what I can to help the good people in Chama who are working over the winter. I have lots of elves helping them. You can also take it to the next level and raise the CT&S problem to the national level.

> 2. A lump, no make that a tenderful, of coal
> for the insurance folks.

Jim, I can leave some nasty Rosebud coal for these guys. And you? You and your other American brothers can stop electing officials from Big Business and throw out the incumbent politicians who help protect the corruption that has slowed your trains.

> 3. Some sort of resolution for the EBT.

Heck, Jim... I'll trade 8 reindeer for 6 operable Mikados. Who wouldn't?

> 4. A bunch of steam in Baltimore next June.

Well, we already have discussed the insurance guys. I don't know about eating crow, but I might find some old cotton waste for Sandy to chew on.

> 5. The time and the money to put together
> some neat engines that are in the shops

Yes, Jim.

> 6. A set of "how to run a
> business" books for the guys in
> Altoona.

Oh, Jim. I think I'll spread all my magic cinders from Gallitzin to the shops to help the nice chase out the naughty.

> 7. A new cylinder saddle for the SP engine
> in Austin .

Jim, have you any idea how small my sleigh is? I can barely get two injectors in it. You'd better see if the Easter bunny can work out a land shipment.

> 8. A case of footlong hotdogs to Andy Nold
> and his Jolly Trolley Guys and Girls at
> McKinney Ave. Trolley in Dallas

Ummm, do I get some, too?

> 9. A magic "uninvisibility
> potion."

Santa can't help you here, Jim. That's something that needs to be home grown.

> 10. People.

Well, now we are on to something. Really, all your requests need number 10 to be fulfilled. Remember, Christmas is about the birth of very special person. Whether you are a follower or not, the lesson is the same as always. It is all about a birth, people and living together.

Merry Christmas!

Santa Claus

> Happy holidays to us one and all!

> Sincerely,
> Jimmy

> That's all I can think of right now. I'm
> sure something else will come up later.

He DOES exist!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wrinnbo@aol.com

In this business it's a Sanity Clause that's questionable.


Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Jimmy -

> He DOES exist!

Of course he does, dear, and we will be watching tomorrow thanks to those nice NORAD boys and girls. You can too, just follow the link below.

Oh, I do suppose these computers can be useful sometimes.

A very Merry Christmas to each of you.

- Mrs. Claus

NORAD Tracks Santa 2002

Jim, ix-nay on the otdogs-ha. (Don't you remember the blood oath?!?!?)

Otherwise... Merry Christmas to all.

> I know it's late, but I just had to write.
> So many folks have been good this year--and
> a few pretty naughty--that I wanted to bring
> a few of them to your attention. So, while
> you're loading up the sleigh, please
> consider the following.

> 1. An operator for the C&TS. Gosh,
> Santa, if you haven't crunched cinders under
> your boots at Chama and then watched those
> little guys straining to reach the summit at
> Cumbres, then wind around back and forth all
> day on the CO/NM state line, you just
> haven't lived. It's as close as any of us
> will ever get to going back in time to visit
> a mountain railroad in the 1920s. So,
> please, Santa, an operator, please, and one
> who cares, who plows money back into the
> railroad, who is good with business--and to
> help 'em--lots of snow in the San Juans this
> winter.

> 2. A lump, no make that a tenderful, of coal
> for the insurance folks. I know they have to
> make a living and I don't argue with that,
> but gouging their customers when their stock
> portfoilos tank isn't cool. It's also not
> cool to jack up the rates when their
> customers' business is down, their costs are
> up and all those expensive Part 230 rules
> have come to play. I'm sure this must keep
> 'em awake at night, so throw in some
> Sominex.

> 3. Some sort of resolution for the EBT. Yes,
> I know we're hung up on the little guys. But
> they're so well preserved that they deserve
> salvation that will last into eternity. I
> mean the EBT is the C&TS East or the
> C&TS is the EBT West... well, you get
> the picture. I'm not sure exactly what to
> ask for. The owner seems to really like the
> railroad but doesn't seem to be ready to
> relinquish control just yet. There are folks
> who would pay him some money for the line
> and put it in the hands of a non-profit. So
> I guess we're looking at salvation, plain
> and simple, in whatever form it takes.

> 4. A bunch of steam in Baltimore next June.
> Gosh, the B&O was such a great railroad
> and CSX is always taking good care of the
> B&O Museum, so perhaps you can help them
> see fit to give us one more great gathering
> of Iron Horses in honor of the 175th. Going
> to Sacramento in 1999 was just about the
> most fun you could have with your clothes
> on. You couldn't turn swining a spike mall
> and not hit a steam dome. So how about one
> more shot... the "first great steam
> gathering of the New Millennium" sounds
> pretty good, doesn't it? Besides, it would
> be fun to see Sandy eat crow at Mount
> Claire.

> 5. The time and the money to put together
> some neat engines that are in the shops...
> the Climax at Cass the Mountain State boys
> are fixing... Sierra 3 in California... the
> K4 in Scranton. All of 'em are pretty cool
> engines that need a lot of work but deserve
> to run again. Oh, and there's also a pretty
> SR 2-8-0 in Spencer that used to run there
> and was even overhauled in the Back Shop....
> nah, nah, nah, on second, thought, I hate to
> ask for something for myself. But....

> 6. A set of "how to run a
> business" books for the guys in
> Altoona. I finally got there in October and
> they've got a wonderful museum... one of the
> best anywhere. The one-time biggest shop
> town in the country should have a great
> museum, scores of visitors, etc. Help 'em,
> Santa, to get it right next year. I'd hate
> to see us lose that one.

> 7. A new cylinder saddle for the SP engine
> in Austin, a new boiler course for 722 in
> Dillsboro, a set of tubes for Heber Valley
> 75 in Utah, and a good home for that SP
> Mogul that was rebuilt in Louisiana. Man,
> those are some fine engines... oops, sorry,
> got back on those steam engines again,
> didn't I. Didn't mean too, but they are the
> railroading of the heart for me, and a lot
> of other folks too.

> 8. A case of footlong hotdogs to Andy Nold
> and his Jolly Trolley Guys and Girls at
> McKinney Ave. Trolley in Dallas for putting
> on a fine ARM meeting in October. Send
> whatever you can spare to toss to the guys
> and gals at St. Louis and Hutington to make
> their ARM and TRAIN meetings next year extra
> special. Getting together and talking with
> each other and having a few refreshing cold
> beverages is a fine thing. Maybe Molly knows
> somebody at Anheiser-Busch, and she does
> have that beer boxcar....


tnold@arsengrs.com

I Have Been A Good Little Boy And Would Like A Pennsylvania T1 For Christmas!
!MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Aaron

norfolk_western_611@hotmail.com

> Jim, ix-nay on the otdogs-ha. (Don't you
> remember the blood oath?!?!?)

I have a certain Doors song running through my head...

eledbetter@rypn.org