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<br />
<br />In 1970, however, the states of Colorado and New
<br />Mexico purchased the track, structures, nine locomo-
<br />tives and 130 other cars and an "amazing group Qf vol-
<br />unteers kick-started the railroad in the fall of 1970,"
<br />according to Brian Shoup, president and CEO of the
<br />Friends.
<br />Now, the line has seen new life breathed into it,
<br />Shoup says, thanks to the $1 million grant from the
<br />U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development
<br />Administration awarded in late April, that may be tri-
<br />pled if "matching" funds ca found.
<br />"The promise of $3.3 million 0 the next three
<br />years will enable us to have a stable of ~or six reli-
<br />able, FRA-compliant locomotives," Shoup orted re-
<br />cently. "This is essential to achieving consiste annual
<br />rider-ship levels of 60,000, a volume of busin s that
<br />generates the revenue needed to move us to th next.
<br />level of development."
<br />For more information call 1-888-CUMB
<br />(286-2737) Qf visit the railroad's web pages at:
<br />www.cumbrestoltec.com or
<br />www.cumbrestoltec.org
<br />
<br />Mark Hunter is an independent journalist who works out 0
<br />Monte Vista.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />What's Up with the Creede Line?
<br />It's been a couple of years since the brouhaha
<br />Qver the railway from South Fork tQ Creede has
<br />been in the news, Despite the pending lawsuit, Don
<br />Shank, the owner of the 21,6.mile me, says it'll be
<br />operational by Memorial Day 20 5.
<br />"Dam near every day some e's working on the
<br />line," he said recently. His oup is rehabilitating
<br />the track and bringing in a (jitional equipment. He
<br />says he has a 44-ton loc otive in Loveland being
<br />worked on and a 3 OO-hp road locomotive in
<br />South Fork.
<br />However, he'l have to resolve the lawsuit
<br />pressed by Cre e to prevent service.
<br />The disagr ement started in the spring of 2000,
<br />when Sha , head of the Durango-based Denver &
<br />Rio Gran Railroad Historic Foundation, bought
<br />the line nd promised passenger service to the old
<br />mini,n town during tourist season, Most Creede
<br />esid ts were unhappy with the Ian which they
<br />ear ould turn the to' eap-se ts versiQn
<br />f il
<br />"The general feeling is that it would overwhelm
<br />e town and change the quality of life," said
<br />ee mayor B.J, Myers. "It would not really bring
<br />e of economic growth that Mr. Shank pur'
<br />p rts th it will,"
<br />Creede ccessfully converted to a tourist town
<br />er its min closed in 1985, Summer residents
<br />d day-trippe bring money into the town with-
<br />o t overwhelmiilg it, Myers cited the town's ambi-
<br />en e, quality of ~if~ and the fact visitors don't have
<br />to tand in line fQr !lours to get into a restaurant
<br />'We're also tremen ously concerned about the
<br />in astrUcture of Cree ," she said, pointing our
<br />tha the increased stress n sewer and water sys.
<br />te would cost big bucks the town, rather than
<br />the ailroad, Creede is a sm II town with a small
<br />bud et.
<br />e argument escalated in 2 00, with a protest
<br />and lots of name calling, The town passed a
<br />non. inding referendum against tourist opera-
<br />tion y a 2,1 margin, The lawsui was filed by
<br />Cree e in November 2000 in state 'strict court,
<br />and as since been remQved to fed ral district
<br />court. Creede's legal bills have been paid by dona.
<br />tions,.
<br />"Those issues are going to be referred tQ the V.S,
<br />Surface Transportation Board in the very near fu-
<br />ture," Shank said.
<br />In other Valley rail developments, the Union Pa-
<br />cific is close to closing a deal with a short-line oper.
<br />ator, Rail America, to take over all UP tracks west of
<br />Walsenburg - that is, the line over Veta Pass to
<br />Alamosa, and the branches from there to Antonito
<br />and South Fork,
<br />
<br />-Marcia Darnell
<br />
<br />June 2003. Colorado Central Magazine' 17
<br />
<br />
<br />How important is the Cumbres and Toltec Rail-
<br />road to Antonito? Judging by the numbers, it's crit"
<br />ca!.
<br />Those numbers have fluctuated in the last ou-
<br />pie Qfyears, due to the train's trouble with the con-
<br />omy and fire restrictions, According to chard
<br />Gomez, executive director of the C&TRR ommis-
<br />sion, the operation put $45 million into 0 Arriba
<br />(New Mexico) and Conejos (Colorado) unties ill'
<br />2001, the last time the tr in had a full s ason. .
<br />"It's split about half an half," he said.~
<br />Rafael Gallegos, mayor f Antonito, says last
<br />year's cutbacks have hurt sma biesses, "It h
<br />affected the restaur ts and th m t ,"
<br />Theresa Martinez nejos C dm' stra-
<br />tor, pegs the county's 0 budge t' st er $13
<br />million, And accor' to nty eas er Mack
<br />Crowther, property t evenu 02 is pro-
<br />jected to be $979,740 Conejos C nry.
<br />It's obvious that Conej Coun can use every
<br />extra dollar it gets, and tli t th loss Qf revenue
<br />from C&TSRR hurts.
<br />Mayor Gallegos said that Antonito's potential fi.
<br />nancial benefit is curbed by the location of the load-
<br />ing zone for the railroad just outside of town, But
<br />according to Gallegos, the town has acquired the
<br />100-year-old depot in the center of town, and plans
<br />to renovate it,
<br />In the future, Antonito hopes to work with the
<br />railroad to extend the track into town, and make
<br />everyone's wallet happier.
<br />
<br />
<br />- Marcia Darnell
<br />
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