Murph ~
You miss my point. No coercion of erstwhile saviors. I am talking about a new way of thinking. A mindset and available mentoring/training for guys about to set off on a career,... that if this RR preservation stuff really rocks their boat, go chase a serious income potential as the way to be involved with steam, rather than hanging around the yard or internet chat rooms, dreaming of "what ifs".
We all know how groups of $20-$40hr wage earners get the job done, ... slow and seemingly always on the edge of disaster. Time for a new game.
Get some "training" going that shows recruits how a serious business or economics degree/job will FAR outstrip the efforts of 50-100 $20hr wage earners, and how TOGETHER, they can make magic happen. Kapische ?
We all work in life. We all do stuff we'd rather not be doing. We all have stuff we'd much rather be doing ! But sometimes the distraction of the immediate pulls us away from directing ourselves to what is the most effective in the long term. Who at 18 realizes that 20 put in with the USMC puts you out at 38 with a full pension and ready for a 2nd career when most people are just getting started on their first ? !!!
It is amazing what people can do when they have clear vision and guidance. Training is EVERYTHING. This "industry" can train guys to operate the equipment, but has NOTHING in place to train the folks who are needed to move mountains. No one thinks about it. No one talks about it. Don't you think it is time to step outside the box ? What could it hurt to expand our horizons ?