I disagree that they belong in Como. Not everything C&S should go to Como.
Now, speaking as a private individual, not for any group or railroad, I wish the 60 and 70 could be lended to the Loop for part of the year, spend most of the year in Idaho Springs, spend summer and fall in Silver Plume. The Loop is in a fantastic position to run a historic consist. They have 2 cars already most of the way restored, as opposed to C&TS, which lets face it, started with chicken coups, they have however done an amazing job converting chicken coups to historic passenger cars. But the C&S cars, minus 911, are already mostly restored, requiring some touch up and mechanical work to operate. RPO 13, Coach 70 and 76 with 60 leading, what a sight that would be on the devils gate bridge. But the Loop is a business, so such an undertaking would have to support itself. Perhaps this community could help make a sensible business plan to make something like that happen. It would put the equipment in the best position to recoup the investment of a restoration. Perhaps the stuff could visit Como, but Como does not make business sense for a Multi Hundred Thousand dollar restoration. Having personally looked at 60 very closely, she has protentional, but needs money to run, she is not a candidate to go to a place under state boiler rules and just hydro and fire up. Perhaps I have an abundance of caution from years in the industry. I thought 40 was going to be simple, but it was everything but. To justify that, you need a plan to recoup at least some of that money. The Loop would also be in a better position, where there could justify such an expenditure if conditions were right. They could after all justify buying 40, and do a rather intensive rebuild on her.
As I said, this is just my dream, nothing more. But I do believe in my heart that it could actually be done if circumstances were right, and support was there. But some day, I do hope to see a C&S engine on the Loop, permanently and not with corners being cut. 9 could have been a great engine (and still could be), but it would take a lot more money then was spent for the first go around.
