Between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Colorado, there is a section of narrow gauge track that once belonged to the D&RGW railroad that has been abandonned for some time. Some of us are trying to get this section and start a scenic railroad thus preserving some of the railroad history of this area. We are fighting an uphill battle as the local bus company is totally against us and seems to have more political pull than we do.
We are a tourist area and to my mind, this would only enhance what is here already, you know, a day trip down the valley and back with a dinner trip at night.
The powers that be want to tear up the tracks and make a trail out of the roadbed. The last thing we need here is another trail.
My question to all forum members is, do any of you know of any organisation that could help us in this fight.
You’d think the bus company would want to use such an attraction as a destination…
The local media are your friends - get the project publicised. You might just get lucky and find that someone out there can help with funds or equipment, at the least you’ll get a few more members. Equally important is to find out who actually owns the line and to find suitable loco, cars, etc - if you can get permission to run you need to be able to start doing so asap, as the “powers that be” will have a far harder job closing down a thriving tourist operation that’s bringing money into the local economy than they would in ripping up an abandoned rail line. I would also say to try negotiating with the bus company - by the sounds of it they maybe feel that a reactivated rail line would be a competitor? Given you’re mainly looking to start it up as a tourist attraction they might be able to benefit from it too (some of those visitors might need transport to the start or finish of the line?). Good luck!
Railroading_Brit I like your way of thinking. [:D]
I wonder have the people who oppose the restoration this section of the D&RGW ever thought that it might be more economical actually leave what they have there and start a tourist rail line? That seems a bit more logical than tearing up the tracks and building a trail, if they really want people to experience the senery (spelling) and history. Plus the money that the people put into tickets or whatever for this tourist line will attract new visitors and bring some money into the comunity; with a trail you can’t do that too much. I do wonder why the local bus company is fighting this unless, they are a tourist line.
Like Matt says, use the local media to you’re advantage. Newspapers, radio, posters, a website, and even the TV. If there’s a public access channel in you’re area, that should be a great way to reach the people. Start a preservation society or something, just get you’re views to the people and they’ll come.[2c][;)]
(oh, and don’t forget magazines)
So where is the money coming from?
Adrianspeeder
Trying and get as many people in the locality on side as possible, by producing leaflets explaining what you want to do and how it will benefit the local economy.
Also get people to write to the elected politician at all levels - remember they are sensitive to public opinion and if you can show that people support your aims thru a letter writing campaign they will sit up. Experience of such things in the UK suggests it only takes about 50 letters to get them to take note. Handwritten letters are perfectly OK too!
The only scenery one gets at the location desired is the back of houses on one side and highway 82 on the other. (The area is built up and getting denser as every dumb fool with money builds a house on what little flat space is left in the Roaring Fork Valley)
Some attraction[B)][}:)][V]
Mudchicken, stay on the front range for you do not know what you are talking about.
i think its great to preserve old railroad history. I hope you win the fight.
You callin mudchicken out? 
Also, my above question still applies…
Adrianspeeder
There might be more to Crystal’s strategy than meets the eye.
The joys of a forum[:D]
…and somebody: (1) can’t handle reality, (2)can’t check his emotions at the door, (3)can’t spell his namesake moniker, and (4) is showing how uninformed he really is.
As far as staying on the front range [(-D][(-D][(-D]
[swg][swg][swg]
Hey MC speaking of the front range, I’ll be up the pass this week, a certain SW-8 again.
got time?
Randy
What is a front range anyway?
Adrianspeeder
Dividing line between the flatlands and the serious relief …
The “Front Range” would be the opposite of the Back Range. In reality, it is the flat part of Colorado, but where you can still see the mountains (ie. Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, etc.) as opposed to the “Western Slope” which is the mountain-y part of Colorado (Grand Junction and so forth).
Cool, I didn’t know that.
Adrianspeeder
darn - I’ll be 160 miles NNW of your SW-8 at a place I’m not supposed to be at. Passing through Denver Fri nite through Sunday? Can we arrange a meet? Say hello to JD!
FYI- Spent Friday afternoon on the phone with old WC’s version of a mudchicken, Eric E -( we are team teaching in early October in Cheeseland/Wisconsin Rapids)
[banghead][banghead][banghead]
Alas I pass through denver on Monday nite, I will say hi to JD. Be sure to say hi to my friends on the WC.
Randy