Re: SVRY #19

With any luck, SVRR might break even this year due to a fortunate donation of oil useable as fuel for the #19. SVRR has always had to scramble for funds, and recent years have seen substantial financial losses from the Porter project, higher fuel costs last year, eroding ridership, and increasing employment over the last few years without a corresponding increase in revenues.

As for #19, there are no funds currently available or grants pending to fund its 15 year/1472 day boiler overhaul. It is more than just putting in new flues, there are other items that need to be repaired since the engine will already be disassembled. Unfortunately, the railroad would have needed to set aside and invest at least $10,000 a year over the last 15 years to be self-funding, and that money never seemed to be available.

To my knowledge, the Board of Directors has yet to adopt a budget at any time over the last few years or identify a business plan that operates next season using a diesel, with Heisler #3 in a limited role (it needs some TLC for regular operation and being a wood burner limits its use during fire season). There are no SVRR employees this year, though the depots are operated under a reasonable contract agreement for a percentage of income. Some assets and property (not needed for current operations) were sold in the last year to reduce the debt.

Basically, SVRR has been forced to use the Amtrak business model. No money left to invest in advertising and equipment repairs because of all the attention to deal with operational losses. Like many other non-profit organizations, SVRR is dependent upon too few dedicated volunteers, many driving hundreds of miles for the weekend.

I strongly encourage anyone interested in seeing #19 run plan on making a trip this year either during the regular season, fall photo specials, Christmas trains, or reserve your own "ALco adventure" which lets you be #19's engineer for a trip (light engine or with a freight train - see www.svry.com for schedule and fares). While it is a priority to return #19 to service as soon as possible, reality is the money just isn't there to do it.

(My personal opinion only as a member, not an official SVRR response)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2009 11:40AM by Dan Robirds.