The US Forest Service maintains a vast network of forest roads. They are used in fire suppression, timber sales, and recreation access. I would guess they would love to have access to the largely inaccessable Animas Canyon. The roads are used by the public for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, boat access, biking, x-country skiing, ATV's, horseback, etc. A tourist rail line is not really in their wheelhouse. Maybe they are thinking of accepting the ROW as compensation in lieu of the fire costs.
I have been to Durango recently, and the area seems to be more about second-home-in-the-mountain real estate than tourist train dependance. I fear for the D&S.
MidlandMike I have been to Durango recently, and the area seems to be more about second-home-in-the-mountain real estate than tourist train dependance. I fear for the D&S.
From what I have read Silverton is much more dependent on the tourism that the railroad attracts. This could make for an interesting Springfield vs Shelbyville type fight in the future.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70DudeFrom what I have read Silverton is much more dependent on the tourism that the railroad attracts. This could make for an interesting Springfield vs Shelbyville type fight in the future.
I would agree that Silverton is in a different world than Durango.
Whatever happened to the two diesels that they were supposedly having built?
Euclid The Forest Service had the power and duty to prohibit the use of coal burning locomotives during high fire danger, and they failed to do that. I don’t believe that assessment is unfair to the Forest Service. Actually, I believe they are being grossly unfair to D&S. There is bitter opposition to the D&S, and without any evidence, they write letters to the editor claiming it to be a fact that D&S started the fire. Obviously, the Forest Service shares their attitude. They have presented no facts that prove D&S started the fire, and yet they use their unlimited legal resources to wage a legal battle that D&S cannot win. The honest conclusion on the part of the Forest Service would have been that they could not determine the cause of the fire. Even those railfan neighborhood volunteer fire fighters claim it to be a fact that the fire was ignited by a D&S train. They offer no direct evidence, just that they know it to be true. If they don’t know for sure, why is it so important to have a position on the matter that they are willing to unfairly reach that conclusion? There is something wrong when a person claims something has to be true because they just know it.
The Forest Service had the power and duty to prohibit the use of coal burning locomotives during high fire danger, and they failed to do that. I don’t believe that assessment is unfair to the Forest Service. Actually, I believe they are being grossly unfair to D&S.
There is bitter opposition to the D&S, and without any evidence, they write letters to the editor claiming it to be a fact that D&S started the fire. Obviously, the Forest Service shares their attitude. They have presented no facts that prove D&S started the fire, and yet they use their unlimited legal resources to wage a legal battle that D&S cannot win. The honest conclusion on the part of the Forest Service would have been that they could not determine the cause of the fire.
Even those railfan neighborhood volunteer fire fighters claim it to be a fact that the fire was ignited by a D&S train. They offer no direct evidence, just that they know it to be true. If they don’t know for sure, why is it so important to have a position on the matter that they are willing to unfairly reach that conclusion? There is something wrong when a person claims something has to be true because they just know it.
Both railroads have been slow to apply modern contrivances on their locomotives to maintain the 'historic fabric' of the equipment. Once it's gone it's most likely gone forever. That said, personally, I think conversion to oil burning is the least intrusive solution, if they can afford it. I will miss the grand aroma of coal smoke and valve oil while enjoying the view.
Yet another gratuitous dig at liberals in these forums.
Lithonia Operator Yet another gratuitous dig at liberals in these forums.
You can always report it to the mods. But then the thread might get locked, and you, I, and rrnut all could get banned or put on moderation. It's not a big inconvenience, I'll just come back as SaskatchewanRiverTrail or something like that....
As one who lives red-orange in a blue Province, I feel your pain (our colours are the opposite of yours).
Want to grab oat milk lattes and discuss how inconvenient a truth global warming is?
Anyway, the real reason I visited this thread was to post this link. A new smell now hangs over Durango:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzLuIN97qDw
I love it! Thanks SD70. I love watching a steam engine start up blasting steam out the cylinder cocks. I loved the sound of the turntable engine.
_____________
"A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner
SD70Dude Want to grab oat milk lattes and discuss how inconvenient a truth global warming is?
I can't watch the video now, as my wife is sleeping six inches away. But what I'm hoping it's about is that the railroad has gone to burning oil in the engines.
That line is a national treasure and must survive.
Lithonia Operator SD70Dude Want to grab oat milk lattes and discuss how inconvenient a truth global warming is? Cool! Definitely. Can I invite Al Gore to come along? (He invented the Internet, so he could probably help us set up a secret private server for emails.)
The more the merrier!
I've been meaning to ask him for some help getting rid of the ManBearPig (look it up) that is hanging around here anyway.
A private server is always the best place to keep sensitive material, everyone knows that!
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