Greg:
The idea isn’t as far fetched as you might imagine. Take these pieces and see what I mean… # 463 has a benefactor willing to underwrite its overhaul for service right now. If # 476 was to be returned to historical service on a recreated San Juan it would likely qualify for Colorado SHF grants for its overhaul similar to what # 315 has received. The engines get rebuilt by their respective home shops and then trade places for a finite period of time returning home at the conclusion.
As far as equipment that is already well underway by the Friends. Castings are on hand for the truck reconstruction next month and the X54 carbody is scheduled for initial rebuilding in the next several weeks to its RPO 54 configuration.
With the continued excellent work by the C&TS track gangs the ROW could be capable in the not too distant future of supporting a daily roundtrip from Antonito to Chama on a San Juan schedule...
Market and price it as an all first class rail adventure although my initial guesstimates say it is probably going to need a few more of the 24 passenger vestibule coaches than it normally carried to make it economically viable in this era…and here is a bonus in that this is a heated train with on board parlor service you could conceivably extend the season on either end (spring & fall) which is going to put more dollars into the local economies...
All it takes is money and a plan...
Rod