Scott:
I have not seen the $42 Million dollar economic impact report so I can’t comment on its data or methodology for arriving at this figure. I suspect based on my first hand experience and observations that perhaps 80% of the economic benefits would flow to NM and Chama specifically. I think we are disingenuous in suggesting CO is getting much bang at the local level for their $ invested. Couple that with a CO state legislature with a minimal regard and political pull for its Hispanic and rural constituency in the Antonito area and it is not an encouraging place to be lobbying from.
Now let’s get real with this whole C&TS RR picture. Can you imagine Al Harper of the D&S operating two separate shop complexes at both Durango and Silverton? Even though the C&TS originates trains from both terminals it makes no operational or business sense to me to build and maintain two shop facilities. But because we are dealing with a quasi pork barrel benefit here for the locals of both states the RR is in effect gerrymandered to get local support.
While you may cringe at the suggestion to consolidate the control under NM authority, I am wondering if in the long run having one “owner” committed to success rather than two partners who don’t have the best interests of the total RR as their focus wouldn’t yield a more consistent funding stream. The bottom line; if they don’t both step up, and soon, they risk the potential for a catastrophic event like we see lying at the bottom of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. How they can commit to a 5 year maintenance plan and then not fund it should give everyone associated with this and other tourist RR’s pause to think about the liability/consequences of not maintaining the infrastructure that we will be riding over with our family and friends.
Rod
