While it is certainly interesting, and from 493's perspective a no brainer good thing, I am not really understanding how this move is bennificial to the Railroad Museum.
- They already have an example of a D&RGW K37 in their collection, an operable specimen none the less.
- Even if the museum converted every narrow gauge car they had to carry passengers, I think they would run out of track on the loop to make up a train before 491 would run out of tractive effort to pull the train, so I doubt there is a need to run double headed K37's.
- The cost to replace all of the missing parts on 493, let alone repair what is still there to operable condition will not be insignificant. The idea of putting that large of an investment into an object that the museum does not and will not own seems debateable to me when there are so many unique pieces in the Museum's collection that would greatly bennifit from said investment.
- Even if the Museum were to turn fully to being a special event centered tourist railroad, would 493 earn back the hundreds of thousands of dollars that will be spent on it in 10 years? 493 would have to bring in 1/10 of its restoration cost per year, in addition to covering the cost of maintenance and operations, just to break even. To be an economically sound investment, 493 would have to generate this money separate from any funds that could be generated if 493 were not at the Museum. Track length, not motive power, is what limits the Museum's passenger carrying capabilities, I can't see how spending money on 493 will add to the bottom line.
So, if moving 493 to Golden, spending cubic dollars making it operable and then moving it back to Durango 10 years later does not really enhance the museum's collection (they already have a K37 running around) and does not seem to be a viable way to add to the museum's bottom line, it begs the question; Why do it at all? Is there something wrong with 491that can be quickly fixed with parts of 493 in time for Thomas or some other event this fall? (no knowledge of any such thing on my part, just wracking my brain trying to figure out how this deal came about)
From the D&S perspective, I understand it much better, the D&S would like to operate larger locomotives that have parts interchangeability. 493 fits this bill. Being without 493 for 10 years will not hurt the D&S at all, all it does is sit in Silverton and bask in the mountain sun. In 10 years it will reappear as an operable locomotive with 5 years left on the clock. Why would anyone pass up that kind of offer! Hell, if that type of deal is good for the museum, I've got several narrow gauge freight cars I can send their way for a full restoration as long as they give them back to me fully restored and operational in 2026! I'll even pay for the trucking.
Jason Midyette
