Q: For the period of May 28, 2005 to June 17th, 2005, how many round-trip trains have run on the Georgetown Loop? (All answers regarding past, present and future ridership and reservations will be announced on July 10th, 2005 by the Colorado Historical Society and Railstar.)

Q: For the period of May 28, 2005 to June 17th, 2005, what is the total ticket sales and the total ridership for the twenty-one days the Georgetown Loop Historic Railroad has been open this year? (See Question #1)

Q: For the same period, what are the separate totals for weekend and weekday (Monday-Friday) ridership? (See Question #1)

Q: What is the total number of tickets sold for the Lebanon Mine tour? (See Question #1)

Q: How many reservations does the Railroad have between June 18th, 2005 and Closing Day in October? Please breakdown by individual/family reservations, and reservations for group tours.

(See Question #1)(Note: Attorney Rod Wolthoff took umbrage with this question and stated "200,000" as the number of reservations for the balance of 2005.)

Q: What is the passenger loading forecast for the remainder of the 2005 season given the motive power and passenger equipment available?

The expectation is that GLHR will carry 85-90% of the 135,000 passengers that could have been carried by the previous operator.

Pete Gores: the Loop presently has ten cars plus the caboose, CHS/Railstar is on trail of back-up diesels, and they‘re awaiting #9 to come on-line.

Q: In terms of equipment exactly what has Railstar contributed to the railroad? What is Railstar’s contractual obligation as far as providing operating equipment in 2005 and in the balance of the ten-year contract?

Per Joseph Bell, the CHS Board of Directors wanted a turn-key operation at the Loop to assure the community that later changes (of operator -JP) would also be a turn-key transition. He also stated that a majority of equipment is owned by the Park and there should be ‘no fears of any of this going away."

Q: Mr. Trottier stated in January that passenger cars were under construction in the Railstar shops, then later stated they were on order with a West Coast vendor. Taking into consideration the vendor’s prior commitment to the White Pass & Yukon, has a contract been let for these cars, and if so, how many are on order and what is the delivery date?

Joseph Bell: Negotiations between Hamilton Car Works and the White Pass & Yukon were already under way. Steve Torrico, presently with Railstar, has a car shop where the cars might be built. Pete Gores expressed his hope that new, and possibly heated, cars would be available for 2005, but added the caveat they might not be.

(Note: Joseph Bell mentioned an "Edwards Car Company". A Google search showed Edwards is a historic car company resurrected by Mr. Torrico.)

Q: If the above-mentioned cars are not available or on order, what other equipment is planned to assure passenger capacity for the balance of 2005? (See the above question.)

Q: Based on currently available equipment, what additional steps have been taken to maximize ridership of the Railroad in 2005? Please include advertising, promotions, or any other methods either active or planned.

KD: Ads are being run in the Rocky Mountain News, and 250 distribution locations have been identified in the Denver area. Also, 100,000 coupons have been sent to schools/ school children in adjacent counties, and some of those coupons are starting to come in.

Joseph Bell noted that CDOT signs advertise the Railroad, and Rod Wolthoff made mention of (a) billboard(s).

Sara Walen asked if riders were asked where they’d heard of the Railroad. Kathy Denzer replied that a zip code survey was being planned.

Q: Who is the advertising agency for the railroad? How were they retained for this service, i.e., was there an RFP, or was some other procurement method used?

JB: Advertising is being done in-house under the CHS/Railstar partnership. The CHS marketing department had taken over Loop advertising, then passed that responsibility on the Ms. Denzer when she was hired by Railstar. Railstar advertising is periodically under the ‘umbrella‘ of CHS marketing, and marketing is also being done in partnership with county organizations.

Q: What is the updated advertising plan and budget for the balance of 2005, and what are your plans for advertising for the 2006 season?

The advertising plan is in work and will be reviewed in the fall. Mark Graybill recommended that CHS/Railstar talk with local commissions.

Q: What developments, if any, have been planned or implemented to increase tourist traffic - and subsequently, business traffic - within the communities of Clear Creek County?

CDOT signs have been updated and/or added, communities are mentioned on board the trains, coupons from the Desperate Merchants Association are being handed out with tickets, in-town signage for ticket purchase at the Devil’s Gate has been established, and Railstar is now a member of the Clear Creek County Chamber of Commerce.

Q: When will C&S engine #9 enter service on the Loop? How many passenger cars will this engine pull? Are there any plans to double-head the #9 with the #12, or will it pull a second train set?

PG: Joseph Bell has talked with Uhrich Locomotive Works. Uhrich is awaiting a boiler inspector before re-fluing the locomotive, and said ULCO say that July is still the deadline for #9’s return to operation.

Calling C&S #9 the "Little Savior", Gores predicted the locomotive could possibly pull four cars, but actual testing on the Loop would be the final determination.

The Colorado Historic Railroad Preservation Association reserves the right to ask any pertinent or late-breaking questions that may not be included on this list.