I agree with your assesment completely.
Now think of this, We found a "need" - the evaluation of the Durango-Chama line. All of a sudden we are being beat up about spreading resources too thin and it should be concentrated on the C&TS. We tried to get the Friends to give us something and were rejected. So there resources that went unwanted by the Friends found a need (real or percieved) and have tried to fill it. It seens hypocritical that they scream about splitting resources when the resources were not wanted to start with.
I fully agree that it would be better to concentrate on the C&TS, BUT I am not familiar enough with the C&TS to figure out what to do so finding a need there and filling it is difficult. Not being able to get the Chama to find a niche and fill it makes it doubly difficult.
If the Friends can not figure out how to use these resources, I have no problem with that. They do not have to help other impromptu projects, but if you have not tried to help use the resources, do not complain about splitting resources.
As far as I'm concerned, most efforts should be concentrated about the C&TS, the D&SNG, the Georgetown Loop, and the CRRM efforts. But if no one wants the the resources and the resources want to do something, there will always be "competing" projects like this one. I'm not challanging the Friends or CRRM or anyone else, just being realistic.
AGAIN, if someone can figure out how to harness this potental (I do not know how great or small it is), many would be willing to help via research on the internet, or formalizing drawings of freight cars or structures ...
I do hope to get out to a work session one day, but it has not yet occured for me.
May God bless us one and all. We do want the same things in the final analysis.
Doug.