I see from the article in the New Mexican that RGRPC has given notice to the Commission that they will terminate the contract to operate the C&TS at the end of this season.
My guess is this does not mean RGRPC will go away, or that the Friends have given up. It simply means that the time has come to sit down with the Commission and the states to see if some important problems can be solved...basically money. Without some government funding to offset the financial damage done by forest fire danger and the high handed actions of the Forest Service, RGRPC simply does not have the money to run the railroad past October.
Legally the Commission may need to seek competitive bids for a new operator, but unless something fundamental changes it is likely that the only viable alternative will be a non-profit operator such as the Friends. There might be other bids, but it is unlikley that there will be anyone in the private sector on terms acceptable to the people of Colorado and New Mexico. The current crisis just underlines the fact that the railroad is not an attractive commercial opportunity, at least at this point in time.
It may also be possible that the Commission and RGRPC will find some money and agree to rescind the termination notice.
In many respects the railroad is in much better shape than two years ago. The EDA money appears to have been well spent to improve track and roadway. The achilles heel seems to be the locomotives, where unless something happens QUICKLY there may be only one or two locomotives legally usable next May under any scenario. The irony is that with Steven Butler's leadership combined with the skills of the shop crew shop productivity was just beginning to get to needed levels when the money ran out. Also, I believe there is significant state funding available, but money allocated by the contract to the 463 and the 497 needs to be released for work on the 480's. Now the 484 and 488 languish unfinished, and the 489 awaits work. At least two of those engines need to be finished to even consider opening next May, and all three are really needed since the 487's running gear is badly worn. The shop can do the job if only the money can be found, but it needs to start NOW.
The Friends fund raising campaign seems to be going well, with reports of over $100,000 in the bank, and an additional $300,000 pledged over the next four. But that is not enough to singlehandedly solve the problem. State or Federal disaster assistance is essential.
There are a lot of reasons why the various parties ought to find a solution. It is an unusually good use of government funds, because those funds are leveraged by significant private donations and farebox revenue. The economic benefits to the area are very large relative to the amount of government money invested.
So what does this mean to us. My suggestion is two fold. Follow Jeff Stebbin's advice and send some cards and letters to the governors. We need to keep the railroad in front of them, since others are also clamoring for money. Secondly, contribute some funds to the Friends compaign....one way or another it will get invested in our favorite railroad.
IMHO.
