Steve,
My understanding is that the local director of CHS has differences in opinion about some local political viewpoints than the current operators of the Georgetown Loop. Throw in the variable that many people in the local communities would like to live in quiet mountain towns without tourists invading, and the current operators are pretty much forced out. These same locals are now salivating heavily and the grand thoughts of having thousands of dollars to play with that they did not earn. They want the Georgetown Loop to hand them free money (40% of proposed profits, per the current RFP). I'm trying to find the posititivity in that.
The local CHS director has been pushing for removal of the current operators. What he failed to calculate is the huge vacuum that will be left when the equipment and experienced staff go with the current operators. Earlier this year in news articles and town hall meetings, comments out of CHS clearly indicated that they felt things would just go on as normal. WRONG. What a fatally bad assumption. Not to brag, but the Georgetown Loop Railroad has made it look way too easy.
In their RFP, CHS quoted the current ridership numbers to seduce another operator to fill the shoes of the current staff and operators of the Loop. These ridership numbers are attainable, but not with the equipment that CHS is currently willing to throw mega-buck-public funds at. Additionally and more importantly, CHS is running about trying to find the last of original C&S equipment to consume on a daily tourist operation. This equipment was never designed for the demands of hauling 115,000 people up and down a 4% grade. Besides that, CHS is proposing the consumption of historic artifacts. This goes against the core mission that C Historical S is charged with of preserving history. Shame on CHS.
Yes CHS is misunderstood ... INTERNALLY! They went at this situation all trigger-happy to blow out the current owners due to a local director's difference of view with resultant bad recommendations. Now that they have put 2" high bold letters on the local paper that says "WE HAVE A TRAIN" they are scrambling to materialize a promise they have had no idea about. So, they hire a consultant to try to backfill the big fat lie they just put on the front page. It's the same concept of writing a check and not having the funds in the bank to cover it = simply irresponsible.
Negative? How about we try the word "objective". If CHS were to publish realistic numbers that tie to an experienced staff, viable equipment, and a qualified operator, there wouldn't be anything to criticize. As it is, CHS has presented terms that are completely unrealistic and unacceptable. They have induced a socialistic stance of "we are the state and we do have the power to do as we please - never mind the partner we had for 30 years that has built this for us".
Want to talk about positivity? Then look long and hard for where it is that CHS has bothered to acknowledge the past 30 years. THAT IS HISTORY! CHS has deceiptfully and intentionally presented terms to the current operator that are impossible. If they wanted to, CHS could ammend the terms and the Georgetown Loop could continue. But, how far must a group go to preserve egos rather than history?
Think about this. If CHS were willing to dump the mega-bucks that they are now (to save their ars) in the past few years, there would be an operational C&S trainset available. This trainset could be operated for special events (not daily as currently proposed) and be a world famous icon for CHS. Instead, CHS is marching forward with wreckless abandon to smite the current operator and cook up a yet to be determined flavor of the Loop. This creates a world renowned reputation for a misguided historical society that is wrecking a currently successful steam railroad operation. Yes, they have done incredible things with other projects, so why does CHS continue to screw this up?
It will require huge dollars for CHS to pull this off. They have ability to tap the resources to have an operational railroad, but why couldn't they continue to be loyal to the operator that has been loyal to them?
They may have a train, but will it be as good as it is or could be? How much money will they waste to save their reputation? Will they double-cross their next operator?
