I have downloaded a petition being circulated requesting hearings about the Forest Service shutting down the C & T S RR. There is no doubt that this problem needs to be resolved, and if it is favorable for the RR, I would hope that things are pursued for lost revenue and the impact of lost revenue for the rest of the year. However, I wonder if at the same time they should be conducting hearings about the future of the Railroad. We sit hear trash everyone, come up with all these ideas, modifications, schedule changes, the only solution I haven’t heard is to fire the engines with llama dung and dry moss(this was done on a line high in the Andes, the dung was used to raise the pressure and the moss was the actual firing element, a root called yareta, one can only imagine what we could do if we could fire with human dung). However, this RR belongs to the States and the decision is going to have to come from them. It is going to be them that has to make the decision if this RR is going to be a viable operation. I think a meeting or some hearings need to to be made to including not only the politicians, but some people that understand the mechanics of the locomotives, the operations of the line, and track specialist. As important, several people need to represent the historical and educational values of this railroad, a factor that is as important as the operations. The financial aspect of this Railroad is going to have to be addressed, the half to three quarters of a million per engine it is going to take to repair the engines and make them FRA compliant, and probably close to 50,000 a coach, the water system needs to be completely checked out and probably rebuilt, and the track, which currently has a grant. Lastly, is the economic impact, which has been thoroughly explained several times. We are dealing with an area that needs every job it can get. The leaders of the States need to decided if they care about this area, or just want to let it go and let the Railroad go. This Railroad is probably always going to be a welfare case where the States are going to have to help out. It is an extremely difficult Railroad to maintain, and make substantial money for profit or nonprofit to put directly back into the equipment. However, the States can still afford to LOOSE a substantial amount of money and the area will gain in the taxes taken in. The picture is bigger than the money for fixing the Railroad, it is what will be returned both financially, economically, and educationally, and saving the best example of steam railroading in the world. This Railroad does belong to all of us and the politicians may need to be reminded of this.
