Re: Capital Projects

Interesting that the AHR's proposed "Capital Improvement Improvement Program" has 2 different mission statements. The first is by Al Harper:

The second is by AHR?

In Al's mission statment he mentions that "We are all the guardians of of history". I would like to think that means the public. I disagree that the best way to preserve history is about interest, excitment, and fair $$$$$. That is why in the U.S. we have the National Park Service, SHPOs, and most private sector museums, societies are not-for-profit tax exempted organizations and corporations. Also there are state goverment subsidised grant $. The vast majority of "history" or rather historic interpetation in the terms of preservation is monotonous, dull and very expensive if it keeped to a acedemic, scholarly and ethical standard. But still there is a bottom line. That bottom line for all "history" is the difference between preservation $ and operation $.
The ethical standards of "history" should not be different in new and old generations at one date of time of the public. The different standards of selling "history" to a certain age group is called target marketing. I think we should strive to introduce historic railroading to newer generations through continual nostalgia even if it includes reproducing history to a time that was before yours and mine. 99% of the population does not know or care about the exact details of railroad history but there is 1% who do and they are the people who saved this or that railroad stuff for all of us to enjoy today and into the longeterm future. Al's mission is Al's opinion. I can prove that.

In the second AHR's mission statment, it is kind of contradictory to the first statement because in fact "those who hold the title" are in reality are the people and state of New Mexico and Colorado and I would like to think that the real guards of the C&T is not a just a theory and definitely not for a for-profit or taxed corporation.

All of AHR's Proposed Capital Improvements have nothing to do with historical preservation. The are just better dividends for the bottom line of the current contracted operator. Paying a "Historical Preservation" surcharge on the ticket is just a means for the public to pay for AHR's operational economic capital expenditure for Al's bottom line.

On the other hand the CATS commission mission is to "preserve and develop" the CATSR in a business plan for the future... kind of a oxy-moron or parradox.

If the C&TSR became a National landmark would it influence a change in the mission of the commission? Perhaps under the leadership of Ken Salazar of the NPS who in the future would enforce who all "holds the title" of the CATS?

Events and tourist railroad marketing like Thomas the XXX (Tank Engine) is great for annual and short-term general fund fundraising, but how many young and new railfans, donation givers and volunteers does he create for life and what is that worth? The real choo-choo pays the bills for the choo-choo credibility and continual operation if managed properly.

See the Defiling of the Silver Plume depot. How much money and ridership did CHS and Railstar earn from this "improvement"? Was it worth it? I hate to see that happen in Chama.