Re: C&TS to restructure
| November 28, 2006 08:14AM |
Hey ya'all (Southern for "hi")-
This is kind of an "all inclusive response to many posts on many websites."
I have to agree that operating the railroad is best left to the professional railroad people. They are the ones who KNOW what they are doing and why. And most of it is not learned from books but from experience.
From the pictures I have seen lately, they are doing a wonderful job at not only maintaining the railroad but are making improvements that the D&RGW wouldn't have even made (wanting to abandon the line.)
The worst part about this annual bickering is that it occurs when the railroad is not in operation but is in the period when the majority of the major work HAS to happen. Track improvements, locomotive and rolling stock repairs and even locomotive refurbishment to operation. It is the time when the money made during the summer operating months are spent with no other income coming in from revenue tickets. The crews that are not working on the trains can be employed through these months provided they are willing to get their hands dirty (which is the railroad way - it's how you learn.) Working year round makes it possible for crews to maintain a residence and a living in the areas around Chama and Antonito which ultimately helps in the way of paying taxes, purchasing groceries, etc.
I do like the idea that the commission is for oversight and appropriation of state monies. Money the railroad makes should go right back into the railroad - salaries, health insurance, retirement plans, maintenance, etc. The more the railroad makes, the less the state money will be required to run it. The money from the state should really be earmarked toward trackage and maintenance anyways (as the railroad becomes more successful.)
The day to day operation is best handled by the local management team who know the work at hand and are experts at getting the job done.
Perhaps these people appointed to be commissioners will take a step back and work with the professionals and value their input and weight it for merit. Like people said, "if it is not broken, don't fix it." So something is working! Perhaps the advertising is reaching more people. Perhaps the improvements to the trackage is reducing derailments and delays. Perhaps the maintenace of the equipment is also preventing costly delays. You do not want people to walk away saying "I will never ride that railroad again!"
I do believe it is a good idea for those who work on the railroad from the commissioners all the way down through the professionals to provide a unified voice and when a decision is made to not to bicker about it but to "get 'er done!" In hindsight some of these might prove to be a bad idea but allowing the railroad professionals to have some flexibility might allow these gaps to be filled quickly. Any manager of a successful business will agree that being flexible is a requirement.
Just my opinion. Even if I am halfway right, I am still doing better than the weatherman!
" />
This is kind of an "all inclusive response to many posts on many websites."
I have to agree that operating the railroad is best left to the professional railroad people. They are the ones who KNOW what they are doing and why. And most of it is not learned from books but from experience.
From the pictures I have seen lately, they are doing a wonderful job at not only maintaining the railroad but are making improvements that the D&RGW wouldn't have even made (wanting to abandon the line.)
The worst part about this annual bickering is that it occurs when the railroad is not in operation but is in the period when the majority of the major work HAS to happen. Track improvements, locomotive and rolling stock repairs and even locomotive refurbishment to operation. It is the time when the money made during the summer operating months are spent with no other income coming in from revenue tickets. The crews that are not working on the trains can be employed through these months provided they are willing to get their hands dirty (which is the railroad way - it's how you learn.) Working year round makes it possible for crews to maintain a residence and a living in the areas around Chama and Antonito which ultimately helps in the way of paying taxes, purchasing groceries, etc.
I do like the idea that the commission is for oversight and appropriation of state monies. Money the railroad makes should go right back into the railroad - salaries, health insurance, retirement plans, maintenance, etc. The more the railroad makes, the less the state money will be required to run it. The money from the state should really be earmarked toward trackage and maintenance anyways (as the railroad becomes more successful.)
The day to day operation is best handled by the local management team who know the work at hand and are experts at getting the job done.
Perhaps these people appointed to be commissioners will take a step back and work with the professionals and value their input and weight it for merit. Like people said, "if it is not broken, don't fix it." So something is working! Perhaps the advertising is reaching more people. Perhaps the improvements to the trackage is reducing derailments and delays. Perhaps the maintenace of the equipment is also preventing costly delays. You do not want people to walk away saying "I will never ride that railroad again!"
I do believe it is a good idea for those who work on the railroad from the commissioners all the way down through the professionals to provide a unified voice and when a decision is made to not to bicker about it but to "get 'er done!" In hindsight some of these might prove to be a bad idea but allowing the railroad professionals to have some flexibility might allow these gaps to be filled quickly. Any manager of a successful business will agree that being flexible is a requirement.
Just my opinion. Even if I am halfway right, I am still doing better than the weatherman!
" />
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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