Steve:
Whether RailStar’s operation of the Loop for their second season was a success remains to be seen from a financial standpoint. When we visited in late August I was told by a RailStar employee that the shutdown at that point in time was costing them about a quarter million dollars. The effect of the shutdown(s) and reduced capacity of trains (compared to the seasons prior to the changeover) on merchants in Georgetown has had a ripple effect throughout the season as those we talked to were taking a direct hit to their bottom line. I am not qualified to render judgment on the operational aspects of RailStar’s management of the Loop; I will leave that up to those in the industry with first hand knowledge of the situation. The reason others in the industry passed on bidding on this operation probably lies more in the poor track record of the CHS and its underhanded dealings with the GTLRR (and others) and its take it or leave it attitude.
I fail to understand your point of why the CHS hierarchy could not be held accountable. Have we lowered ourselves to the point of allowing the inmates to run the asylum and just throw our hands in the air because that is how it is? Nonsense. Bell and Behrens are just the henchmen for the CHS board led by Phil Karsh and Georgiana Contigluglia who orchestrated this whole changeover for political reasons IMHO.
And for those who say it isn’t taxpayer money being used to fund this unnecessary transition, think again. Whether it comes from gambling revenue, property, income or sales tax it is still a tax. Following the CHS accounting they have shifted funds from various capital accounts and even had the gall to try and get the #111 restoration funded by state historic funds. I am fully aware that the CHS through their disbursement of the state gambling tax, funds many worthy historic restorations and studies. The point is they have diverted funds within their budget to pay for the Loop capital improvements which reduces funds for other historic projects. It is all connected and really sad that a few mental midgets in the CHS are allowed to operate in their cavalier fashion. And here is the really sad part for us students of NG rail history. With the restoration of the C&S #9 and what now appears to be the abandoned operational restoration of C&S #74 there was a real potential for the CHS to actually do some historical recreation of equipment on the property. For probably the same amount of money that is being invested in a non historic Colorado engine (#111) we could have had the C&S #71 returned to service. But that will probably never happen because the CHS burned that bridge long ago. And instead of cobbling together non C&S historic freight cars why not build some first class passenger equipment representative of the C&S? Isn’t that what the mission of the Colorado Historical Society is about, i.e. restoring and recreating Colorado history? Or did that mission get lost somewhere in the back rooms of BlackHawk, Central City and Cripple Creek?
You may call my missives sniping and that is your opinion which I will respect also. Until there is a full and complete fact finding of the CHS handling of the Georgetown Loop operator changeover I will not let it rest. The same people who perpetrated this fiasco continue making ill informed decisions on equipment and maintenance which perhaps through the diligence of RailStar has prevented a catastrophic failure.
"Those who fail to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it".
