John Cole Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ross Miller Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I hate to be the one to tell the emperor that
> he
> > has no clothes on but...
> >
> > The 478 isn't in the mechanical shape some on
> this
> > board think it is. If it were, the D&S would do
> > the "necessary minor work" to it and put in
> back
> > into service-plain and simple, especially given
> > the costs to restore the 483 into service. The
> D&S
> > didn't just "flip a coin" to pick which K-28
> > engine to overhaul. They picked the lesser of
> two
> > money pits (476) pertaining to the potential of
> > return on investment with said locomotive's
> return
> > to service.
> >
> > IIRC, Harper has been burned by the C&TS and
> its
> > Commission twice now, why would he ever
> entertain
> > with the possibility of being burned again?
> That
> > is the question that should be being asked. The
> > definition of crazy is doing the same thing
> over
> > and again but expecting different results.
>
> Al is a business man, and will make a trade ONLY
> IF it would make sense in $'s to him. I have no
> illusions about the condition of the 78, but it is
> less of a basket case than the 83 is. In the
> sweet by and by there would be plenty of money to
> sink in the 83s restoration, unfortunately we live
> in the nasty now and now and there isn't. With
> New Mexico facing a 2/3 BILLION dollar budget
> shortfall this year alone, and no immediate hope
> on the horizon of crude oil and natural prices
> rebounding anytime soon so oil tax revenues fill
> the state coffers, we can either let the 83 sit
> and decay another decade or so, or make something
> happen with the locomotive swap.
>
> The guys who rebuild engines on both the D&S and
> the CATS have looked over both engines and I am
> sure ran the costs involved both ways, so all we
> are doing here is inconveniencing lots of
> electrons second guessing the experts. With Dick
> Cowles now on the commission, I am sure the issue
> will be revisited with another look to see if it
> makes sense.
>
> "If wishes were horses, then all the beggars could
> ride" (Old English proverb)
Dick Cowles has an extensive background in finance and is a railfan at heart. John Bush is an expert with steam locomotives and a railfan at heart. I think you're right that this might be revisited.
From a museum standpoint, one would want as many types of motive power that historically ran on the line. A K28 pulling a historic passenger consist over Cumbres is something that's missing. We have a RPO that's just about to get passenger trucks, a baggage car is awaiting restoration. Other passenger cars are being restored. However there's no passenger locomotive presently.
Earl is right. The arm chair quarterbacking is not cool. If this is revisited, folks should support Dick and John's efforts. They are only doing what's best for the C&T. If they are in agreement and say "yes" or "no" to something, I'm not going to second guess them since they know way more than myself. Amazing how a lot think they know more than these guys.
Also, if there's another potential swap I don't think the supporters will be as quiet. The folks who did everything they could to screw up the last lost their grand poo bah over it. It's very stupid to ask the state of NM for locomotive boiler rebuild funding while at the same time getting the NM attorney general to block a swap of an operational locomotive for a derelict.
For those with no foresight, just imagine this past weeks K36 and a 30 car freight sitting on a siding as a K28 with RPO 54, baggage car and 2 to 3 historic passenger cars go by. So whatcha think Michael Allen or John West? Wouldn't that be the ultimate photo charter?