I do not jest. I am not proposing that the Cumbes & Toltec or the Durango & Silverton electrify. However, for a large number of short museum operations, usually running on a line without unique scenic features with the proverbial Alco S2, two Lackawanna MU trailers and a caboose, trolley operation would be a good alternative. The cleanliness, low operating cost and simplicity of operation are all good reasons for this alternative. A large trolley collection is not needed. Fort Collins, at the opposite end of Colorado, is an excellent example of how successfol an operation can be with only 1 car and about 1 1/2 miles of track.

Howdy,

The Fort Collins operation is an historically valid use of equipment.

A better example would be the Platte River Trolley that uses, or did use, a gas driven generator to power the replica trolley (built in Sweden?).

Cheers, Roger

I feel that there are a couple of other things related to enviromental issues in rail preservation.

our job (if we chose it or not) is largely education. The biggest part of education is honesty. Fans and kids are not stupid, and can get the preception, wiether correct or not, that the thing we all hold special (steam in every form) is dirty, horribly dirty.
The black smoke that fills the air, burning the coal that causes acid rain, the dripping oil and gobbs of grease all getting in the ground water. We are an easy target.
How many have actually thought about "debunking" the myths that surround this. Showing that most electric power is still produced that same way (coal and steam). That water (for boilers) and coal are (renewable) natural resources that can be used for many, many years in the future. That the problems of emissions are greatly reduced thru coal selection, and properly firing your loco. That if local mass transit and cross country travel were done by rail now, how many cars would be off the hiway, and federally supported , high emission, airlines would be thinned considerably Most people don't even have a clue as to how efficient rail is today. I think I saw something like 1 gal of diesel will haul a ton 400 miles. If we are to keep the "wolves at bay" it will take a serious organized re-education of the masses. We can do this, but it has to be fun, exciting and have massive visual inpact.

wait a minute...didn't I just describe a steam excursion?

we all should consider developing a pool of educational tools that are available to everyone (FREE) to help drive our love to the next level,
that can be deployed at places people wait around waiting for the trains and absorb the information thru shear osmosis, if nothing else

dr dodge wrote, "That water and coal are renewable natural resources that can be used for many years in the future."


Coal is *not* a renewable resource! Roger

ok, thats right, but theres enough to use for a long time, and there is always plenty of other re-newable stuff to burn

my appologies

dr