Re: C&TS "Pretty but not profitable" -- Pueblo Chieftain Article

I wouldn't be so bold as to place a number on it, but I'm on record in this forum as having said that the economic development argument is a harder sell in Colorado than it is in NM. Nevertheless, there is still an economic argument to be made, and there are other arguments as well. And dollars have flowed to the RR from Colorado and will certainly flow in the future.

While there might be some advantages to consolidation of facilities at a single terminal, there are also dangers to consider - such as the possibility (perhaps even probability) of having a truncated RR should control revert entirely to NM. I'm one of those who likes it out on the eastern end of the line, and I sure don't want to be sitting here reminiscing with y'all about the halcyon days when trains still ran past Bighorn. It ain't all rosy in a single owner scenario.

But when all is said and done, the biggest argument against any such divestiture on the part of Colorado remains the fact that the political situations in both states are fluid, and will always be so. Santa Fe could suddenly lose interest in the face of more pressing problems and/or declining energy revenues, just as Denver could gain a key influential supporter who'd be able to ramrod funding through Colorado's JBC. These are not necessarily dreams or nightmares - simply political reality.

Enough. Off for a few badly needed days in NG heaven, ridin' and chasin' with my son. Riding from Antonito, as we always do, and hoping to always have that option.

Scott



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2007 04:45PM by Scott Turner.