Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

I see that C&TS Friends appears to be requiring - via HRM - an additional form to be carried "at all times" by Work Session participants (I'm signed up for Session D) for "Entry Upon Railroad Property."

The C&TS Railroad Operator HRM has established specific requirement for entry onto railroad property. They have prepared a document “Permission To Enter Upon Premises” (PEUP) that each individual must read and sign before entry will be authorized. The PEUP document is attached as part of the team member assignments e-mail. When signing the PEUP, be sure you have your signature witnessed. The operator requires that you carry a railroad authorized form with you at all times whenever you are on railroad property. PLEASE NOTE: Should you refuse to sign the PEUP document, entry onto the property will be denied (other than public areas) by the operator HRM. No changes to the document wording will be accepted.

My question/comment is this: In past years one of the best features of the C&TS is that guest/visitors/passengers whatever had free range of the yard (with the exception of the shop) to view and learn. Is this change going to restrict that (as in passengers in Durango are practically shot on sight if they want to enter anything other than the yellow passenger cars).

I was concerned about this possibility when I heard HRM was taking over daily operation. I'm sure there are "litigation issues" but this has never (apparently) been an issue in the past. Is this a change in access when it comes to the Chama/Antonito yards or photographs along the RofW or are they considered "public areas?"

Can anyone clarify this? Thanks.

Chris J

Chris,
Good question. We need to go into this new relationship with our eyes open, understanding what these changes entail both for work session volunteers and the public and, hopefully, why they're being made. I haven't heard of the operator being unreasonable but I would like to know more.
Paul

The general public will still be allowed to access the yard except for the shop as in the past. They will be required, like mentioned above, to sign the PEUP and have a photo badge issued. My understanding is that an individual will check in at the Chama Depot and ask a reservation agent for the form and then have their photo badge issued. The process actually went pretty smoothly in Antonito on Sunday when session "A" workers registered. Hope this helps.

Thank you Tim! That's a question that seems to be on a lot of minds. Do you know how long the badge will be good for?

The badge is good for the dates you place on the PEUP. Most work sessions workers put May 20-August 31, 2012. That covers them for all of this year's work sessions.

Tim Tennant, Question, dose a friends member have to have bage to visit the CRF in Antonito. Fred L. Kuhns

The CRF is Friend's property. It doesn't belong to the commission.

Something to think about if someone is planning on visiting Chama or Antonito and a Friends member. You need need to complete the Friends paperwork and get that. Then take that to the Chama depot, sign the AHR form and then you get a Friends photo id. Then you can walk the yard at your leisure. All Friends members have had ID's in the past so this really isn't a big change. Actually it's nicer to have a permanent photo id.

Simplest thing to do for anyone is become a Friends member, sign two forms and get a plastic photo id. It's easy. Plus the id looks nice.

Where does the photo for the ID come from? Is that done at the Work Session?

ID badge is done at the Chama depot.

Is there any way to get the forms ahead of time?
Enjoy,
Blake

Call the Friends office and ask to have their form mailed to you. After that you take it to the depot and complete the other form. Then you get a photo id.

I beleive that the forms are also available on the Friends web site (if they haven't changed already). If they're still current you can down load and print them.

Fred, as Joe pointed out a badge and release is not needed when working in the Friends CRF in Antonito as it is our own property.

Tim, thanks for your reply look forward to working in Antonito. Fred L. Kuhns