The C&TS is as much about politics as it is about maintaining a historic RR and economic catalyst for the region it serves. If we are really honest it is a pork barrel that just happens to look and smell like a coal fired NG railroad that was once the D&RGW.
I submit whoever the commission selects as operator in 2006 and beyond will be as much a political decision as one based on the tangibles that each bidder brings to the table.
While Iowa Pacific may have more RR experience I wonder if after several years of dealing with the politics of a bi state commission, NM & CO legislative funding (or lack thereof), pressure to hire the locals for various positions, and the ultimate deal breaker for a “for profit” corporation; meager profits, how will IP differ from Scenic, Kyle, Bart, RGRPC who have come before and thrown in the towel? I can just hear it now like the Pace salsa ads (made in New York City?!?) when things are not done to the liking of the locals who “know” how to run the railroad. What is the financial motivation of Iowa Pacific in this endeavor? Running a tourist RR is not really something that fits their current portfolio unless of course this is a new direction for them.
As far as the Friends proposal we don’t not a lot about this either. What we do know is they tried this once before and that is one reason why we are back to this point today. What is going to be done differently this time around? From a strategic point of view I can see how the Friends could really capitalize on the synergies of their historic preservation mission with a historic tourist RR experience. No one can claim a better motivation or track record of stepping up and supporting this RR than the Friends. Maybe now with Gov. Cargo on the commission the direction and focus of the commission will turn more to oversight and strategic planning with a real priority focus on getting the needed capital funding that has doomed all the previous operators. If I was making the bid this time around I would require the commission to contractually guarantee that they will provide the capital funds to maintain and improve the RR otherwise it will be the revolving operator door again.
Bottom line: 1. we need an operator who is going to stick around for the long haul. 2. a commission who can try and keep the politicking to a minimum and let the professional RRers they select to run the RR do their jobs with a minimum of interference 3. a C&TS commission and state government(s) who will make sure the capital is available to maintain and restore what can surely be the premier historic tourist RR in the world. Why settle for anything less?
Rod Jensen
