This letter is in response to Jo Ann Sornsen's quoted comment made regarding the Georgetown Loop Railroad, Inc. "pulling the plug" on the community. We never pulled the plug Joann, quite the contrary. Let me begin by briefly explaining our goals in negotiating another contract with the CHS. Our goal, which we clearly stated throughout the negotiating process, was to run the Georgetown Loop Railroad for another 20-years.

After building this railroad with the help and expertise of our valued employees into a world-class tourist railroad, we were committed to ensuring the Loop's success well into the future. We have poured many hundreds of thousands of dollars into equipment, infrastructure, new offices, reservations systems, maintenance, etc., along with a huge marketing and promotional campaign that had successfully brought people to Clear Creek County from all over the world. We understand the importance of the success of this railroad and what it takes to safely carry passengers on a historic steam train line.

Then last March, at what would ultimately be our last meeting with the CHS, we were met with terms that were non-negotiable. The CHS offered us a 5-year term along with a substantial increase in liability insurance and an increase in fee. This was presented by the Assistant Attorney General slamming his fist on the table, stating "we are the only game in town for you folks." Our family sat in utter disbelief. What we were attempting to negotiate with the CHS would have would have ensured uninterrupted steam train service well into the future. We then asked Mr. Joseph Bell if this was their final offer. His response was, "Yes." We then left the meeting and began our last season operating our historic steam equipment on the Georgetown Loop and the CHS began a formal bid process, seeking another vendor to operate the site.

We decided not to respond to the RFP in June for several reasons, but mainly because the terms proposed have failed elsewhere and would take away the freedom we had enjoyed operating the Loop in a way that has proved successful.

Then, in August we found through many different sources that there were very few bidders and none with steam equipment capable of running on this mountain railroad and able to carry historic numbers of passengers. On August 13th, we decided to make one final attempt to reopen negotiations with the CHS both through our attorney, who called the Assistant Attorney General, Mr. Rod Wolthoff, and with a follow-up letter to Georgiana Contiguglia of the CHS. The CHS then chose a new operator the following week.

Now, all 60 pieces of historic steam equipment, railroad cars, tools, and machinery that we acquired throughout the last 30+ years have been moved from the property. We have been forced to lay off our employees and friends who made this project successful. It is bittersweet, but we look to the future and are fortunate in that we are now able to concentrate all of our efforts and resources promoting the historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Cañon City.

We remain property owners in Georgetown and are now in a position of hoping that what the CHS promised the County is true and that there will not be any interruption in service on the Georgetown Loop. We also sincerely hope that the railroad we built will continue to safely haul well over 100,000+ passengers a year on an historic steam train, and that the marketing and promotion provided by Railstar and the CHS will continue to draw people from around the world to Clear Creek County. As business owners, we rely heavily on the railroad's continued success as the major summer tourist draw. One thing is for certain; our family, friends and employees poured their hearts and souls into this railroad. We had every intention of running this railroad well into the future, but not at a loss.