The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train should have been shut down during this season of extraordinarily historical drought.
And can someone please explain why, in this age of technological and engineering know-how, the train cannot be operated such that the appearance of smoke is created? (Maybe steam could be used for that appearance and would add moisture to the dry conditions.)
In drought such as this, burning coal simply to create an historical experience for tourists is unacceptable. In addition, during such an extreme drought it makes sense to close access to national forest areas as has been done in areas near Flagstaff, Arizona.
No amount of tourism dollars are worth the environmental and financial cost of wildfires.
Carol Shepard
Durango
