Scenic Railroad Talks Stall
By Gary E. Salazar
Journal Staff Writer
Contract negotiations between the Rio Grande Preservation Corp. and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Commission are chugging along slowly, leaving both parties frustrated.
As the future of the scenic railroad remains cloudy, the bi-state commission that oversees it has been unable to hammer out a new contract with the corporation that has operated the 64-mile narrow gauge line for the past three years.
"I would have liked for this contract to be in place a long time ago," said Carl Turner, who with Steve Malnar represents New Mexico on the four-member board. "Things are not moving as fast as we would have liked."
On Jan. 11, the commission selected Rio Grande Preservation to operate the railroad once again between Chama and Antonito, Colo. The corporation terminated its contract with the commission in October after it lost $1.5 million in revenue after the U.S. Forest Service, citing extreme fire danger, shut down the railroad operation.
The corporation is interested in operating the railroad again, but with a new contract. The commission selected Rio Grande Preservation over three other bids because of its experience.
The commission was hopeful a deal could be struck by its last meeting, which was held Saturday in Antonito.
Officials on both sides said an agreement will not be in place until a number of issues are resolved, which include money owed to each party and who will end up overseeing the railroad's crews in Chama and Antonito.
Terri Shaw, president of Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and a corporation board member, said both sides are unwilling to budge at this point.
"I actually think we may be looking at a stalemate," she said. "I don't know how we can move forward."
Shaw said the corporation claims the commission owes the corporation about $30,000 for improvements it made to the track last year.
Colorado state Sen. Lew Entz, who serves on the commission with Colorado resident Carol Salisbury, said the commission should not pay for the improvements because he claims the corporation broke a contract for the work.
"We had a contract for a certain amount," he said. "The cost ended up being higher. Instead of amending the contract, they just went ahead and did the work and billed us."
Entz said the corporation owes the commission about $60,000 for a portion of the rent it pays each year to operate the railroad.
Turner said the corporation is not willing to pay the amount because of the monthlong shutdown.
The third issue involves who will manage the railroad's shop and 14 maintenance employees. Turner and Malnar agree the corporation should manage the employees of the two rail-yard shops.
"They should be employees of the corporation because it will be operating the railroad," Turner said.
Shaw agrees.
"They want us to sell the tickets and run the train but not have any control over maintenance," she said. "I think that is shortsighted."
The two Colorado members are in favor of the commission overseeing the shops and the maintenance of the trains.
Entz said the corporation had three years to prove to the commission it could handle this work.
"They have not gotten anything done," Entz said. "The fleet is in worse shape than when they took over. They can't get anything accomplished."
Entz said the commission should continue to oversee the work on three locomotives. The commission has borrowed $90,000 from the state of New Mexico to start upgrading the locomotives to meet standards required by the Federal Railroad Administration.
In order for the scenic railroad to open in May, a contract must be in place but more importantly the boilers of each of the locomotives must be improved to meet federal guidelines.
The commission is counting on a $1.2 million grant from the federal government to pay for the improvements, which have started on two locomotives. The commission must also improve two portions of track before the railroad can operate. Track work is expected to start this spring.
"The important thing is the engines are being worked on," Turner said. "Whether we will have three available by Memorial Day, we are holding our breath."
Turner said he is hopeful a contract can be in place by the commission's next meeting, which is set for Feb. 8 in Chama.
For the contract to be ratified, Turner said it would need approval from the attorney generals of both states, which jointly purchased the railroad in 1970.
Copyright 2003 Albuquerque Journal
