Verbage aside, I must agree with what Dave said. Ken was doing really good things up there and had the intention of coming up with another steamer. My understanding of the situation is that this group is standing/has stood in the way of any further development. I know nothing of this group and am in no way amcking any accusation...but, those nice(as reported by those whom they came in contact with)folks in Waco, TX were christian based as well. Just led by someone who thought he was go...or jesus....or who knows. Point being, to live in the south and have lived with "bible thumpers" all around for a while it is easy to believe that these folks may be of a slightly more devout persuation than most are acustomed to.

Well, if it makes anybody feel better:

a) The DRG folks are NOT of the same ilk as those of Wacko, TX. They don't get in your face and preach and I assure you we don't have automatic firearms and explosives packed in either of the tunnels or hidden in the gorge. Don't even think we have a Bible stowed away in there either.

b) For those "having grown up in the south" and points beyond, most of the folks in charge are Yankees, so they know how to read and are not married to relatives and have actually used 'lectricity and drank a pop. So maybe they're more cultured and school-learned than Y'all thank 'bout the restovus. Some of us did use ta drain the water outta Rachel when our still ran low, but we loobed 'er with some mash to pay it back when we had to. :)

c) Seriously, though, here we go with the rumors, and the "I heard this"
and "I heard that" routine. Ken Riddle is still involved with the group and the camp is NOT standing in the way of any development that takes away from their primary purpose. In case no one has ever read any posting on this list, it costs money, sometimes lots of money, to operate a stretch of railroad, much less three miles of rugged mountain railroad, much less steam. Pardon the DRG folks if they feel they have a primary mission to make teens feel good about themselves and their creator in a positive and fun way- rather than spend their limited funds on tourist railroad the way that those on a railroad-oriented list would want them to. Do disagreements happen between those railroad oriented and those not so much inclined? YES. Of course, yes. Reasonable people can have reasonable differences.

d) The point, once again, is that the property is PRESERVED, is ACTIVE, and WELCOMES railfans, whether you are Southern Baptist, Buddhist, Hindu, black, white, etc. You will not get preached at, you will not get baptized, and you will not get run off. You might even enjoy the experience and feel like donating to the railroad fund.

Just because it is a "Christian Camp" is not a negative, and any attempts to link their character to Waco, or call them "militant" is just plain wrong.

Matt Bumgarner

This thread is taking a negative turn. Criticism of the religious beliefs of the owners of the site violates our guidelines. I have locked the discussion.

Thank you,