Re: Why We Do It

Rod, I am going from memory here so someone please jump in and correct me if I have my facts wrong. The red Rio Grande caboose was rebuilt by the Friends and painted by us a year ago before it got lettered for senator Entz. All the railroad did was do the lettering. That is a LOT less work than doing the prepwork and painting for even one passenger car. The operator and it's employees are the ONLY ones who are supposed to work on revenue cars,(passenger cars), our group in charged with all the rest. I would think that you will agree that we have a full plate just doing that.
I agree with you totally that the comission has done a LOUSY JOB in taking care of the railroad it is charged to look after. When they pulled the plug on the RGRPC last fall they damm near shut the railroad for good! The C&TSMG was formed at the REQUEST of the comission to basically bail them out for their snafu. Considering that the shop in Chama was shut down a short time last winter and the Antonito shop was closed ALL WINTER it is amazing that they even got the equipment up and running for this season.
If the C&TSMG is allowed to carry on this winter and next year I am sure that the issues that have been happening to the equipment since Kyle's days will be addressed. Just look what they have done this year with the track! They have changed more ties this year than has been done in the last 10 years combined! This new group has 'can do' people running it, but NOBODY can fix everything that is broken in only one season. Please give them some time to work, I am sure that ALL of us will be impressed. Regards, John