Refund for train trip would have been goodwill gesture

To the Editor:

The following letter to Frank Fowler, general superintendent for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, has been released for publication.

Dear Mr. Fowler,

I am writing this in response to the train ride story that was in the Nov. 3, 2009, edition of the Cumberland Times-News.

It gave three reasons why the train ride was delayed:

1. Bad coal

2. Leaves on the track

3. New crewmen

If this was the case, just think of how it would have been toward showing goodwill, had they offered a refund for those who asked for it.

If this offer had been given, you could have avoided the bad publicity and sold our great train ride.

In the community effort to raise money to replace the barn at Helmstetter’s Curve for the railroad, had you given the refund for the ride, or offered another train trip, this could help in the efforts for the community to get involved.

Jim Ritchie

Spring Gap