C&T: 'We had a really good year.' Modified: Wednesday, Dec 17th, 2008 BY: LARRY WINGET At right, Antonito's Leo Schmitz gives his report as executive director of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission to that boby, during it Dec. 11 quarterly meeting, held in Chama, N.M. To his right are New Mexico Commissioner, Chairman Randy Randall and Colorado Commissioner, Treasurer Peter Foster. CHAMA, New Mexico-After a "really good year" featuring an increase in ridership and revenue, without an increase in expenses, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad announced that its 2009 season would run from May 23 through Oct. 18. Without counting special Christmas trains still to come in 2008, the C&T registered 44,714 riders in the season, up from 2007's 43,164 passengers. That increase goes along with a 4.5 percent increase in revenue from that of 2007. The figures were given to the C&TSRR commissioners during their quarterly meeting on Dec. 11, held in Chama, N.M. Frank Turner, president and chief executive officer for the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Management Company, which provided the passenger and revenue information, said, "We felt we had a really good season." The railroad did finish its fiscal year with a shortfall in projected revenue of $150,000. This was offset somewhat by expenses that ran $30,000 less than projected. Randy Randall, chairman of the C&T commission said the railroad had applied for a $1 million grant from the San Francisco-based Candelaria Fund. He said the application was well received and should the grant be made the railroad would receive $100,000 per year for the next ten years. In another possible coup for the C&T, Jerry Hanks, of the New Mexico film production company First Serve Productions, said a major motion picture to be filmed in New Mexico would more than likely use the Chama area and the historic narrow gauge railroad as a backdrop for the movie. Casting is taking place in Hollywood, with A-list names like Cameron Diaz and Vigo Mortensen being mentioned as possible cast members. Hanks said the film would spend up to half of its $6 million budget in northern New Mexico. Cumbres & Toltec Marketing Director Gayle Martinez displayed a full-color, fold out pamphlet, printed by the C&T, detailing the attractions of Conejos County. The double-sided publication features more that a dozen photographs and maps of Conejos County along with several paragraphs of text extolling the County's tourist virtues. It is set for display at tourist information kiosks and brochure racks used by the C&T. This is an outgrowth of efforts by Ann Marie Velasquez and the Conejos County Tourism Council to partner with the railroad to benefit it and the County. For more of this article, please see the Dec. 17 issue of the Conejos County Citizen.
