Ohio Railfan Wrote:
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> Oh, and don’t forget the greenies hate steam locomotives.

As a "greenie" and a railfan, I certainly do not hate steam locomotives. However, you may want to consider that such a statements can alienate young people considering becoming railway enthusiasts.

As someone who has been a membmer of several environmental organizations, I have never read of any environmental organization objecting to main line steam excursions. On the contrary, the Sierra Club, on one of its outings, included a ride on a Colorado narrow gauge line (don't remember if it was the Cumbres & Toltec or the Durango & Silverton).

Regarding environmental organizations and railroads, their main concern is diesel locomotive emissions and hauling of hazardous materials by rail, which has been amplified by last month's derailment in East Palestine. However, in the aftermath of that disaster, all sorts of politicians jumped on that bandwagon including many politicians normally hostile towards concerns about toxic substance in communities.

I am aware that there has been NIMBY-type opposition to the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and the Durango & Silverton. However, those were isolated, local attitudes and do not reflect any national movement against steam locomotives. Additionally, they are not main line excursion operations.