Thanks for your thoughts, Kevin. We're now thinking of boiling this down to $25 for both evening trips, which will involve photographic opportunities at Alna Center with the truck and railcar around 6:30 PM, and dusk opportunities there around 8:00 or so. We're reducing the rate (it was $25 for each trip) because we want to encourage involvement while at the same time maintaining this as a fund-raising venture for coach 3.
I should clarify our intent here... We've greatly appreciated the professional-level photographs that have come from our operation in the past several years, and more so the people behind those photographers. I'm touched that so many people have chosen our operation to see, take part in, and spread the word about, with so many options out there. With that- we want to maintain and bolster that enthusiasm- we have no intent to try to capitalize on what we see as tremendous good will.
Our intent with these special trains is essentially to ask our members to support the purchase of the coach, with an event focusing on coach 3 as a value-added thank you for that support. It is indeed aimed at railfan/photographers, and we're hoping that many of the same members who join us for the picnic will stick around for the 6PM trip, and the die-hards will be interested in the dusk trip.
As a fun aside- the railcar will not operate outside of Sheepscot yard all day until around quarter till 5PM, at which time we'll run it the full length of the line for the first time. For fun- we're planning a silent auction throughout the day Saturday for tickets for the first 4 riders on that trip. Subsequent trips will be run the length of the line at regular fair- all day passes will be honored. for that.
We do appreicate feedback on everything- including these ideas. How many folks reading this might take part?
Thanks,
Jason