Bill:
With all due respect I would disagree with the decision to keep #053 as a cook car. I applaud the Friends efforts to obtain the grants and restore these cars but I really don’t understand what the “big picture master plan” is for what, why and when (order of precedence) Friends projects are being done. To my point, negotiations are under way to bring the #315 to the C&TS this coming summer and yet we have no historic passenger equipment that can be used with it.
If it is the goal of the Friends to support and enable the RR to survive and prosper then shouldn’t the priority be given to restoring some of the historic passenger coaches first that could generate revenue if used on excursions? You are correct that #053 did have a longer service life as a cook car but how is restoring this car in this configuration (which was used as part of the OM snow fighting train) a higher priority than the coaches? Further, it would be just as fitting to see it restored in a RPO configuration (the only surviving open platform RPO car that I know of) that could also double as a concession car in a small historic train set. I suppose if the plan is to keep the 053 as a working cook car for Friends work sessions you will find a lot of hungry workers to support this plan…LOL
Seriously, I really would like to see the Friends game plan for car restoration enumerated for discussion. In a world of limited resources (time, money and manpower) I am not seeing how the Friends projects are prioritized and integrated into the operations side of the RR while also maintaining the historic preservation mission and museum function as well. I see the icon structure of the RR in Chama, the coaling tower, in ever more deteriorating condition and wonder how this cannot be a top priority for everyone concerned. Please don’t get me wrong, I think the recent actions that the Friends have done are fantastic i.e. Antonito CRF, Dorman photo collection, land acquisition in Chama for a second CRF, etc. but I am wondering given the RR’s precarious operating position if we shouldn’t be more focused in the near term in directly supporting the operator in the project choices thereby aiding the revenue stream. If I have missed the communication of the Friends specifics of the master plan please point me in the right direction. To date all I find is an executive summary document on the Friends site that doesn’t really answer my questions and concerns about the Friends priorities and allocation of resources.
[www.cumbrestoltec.org]
