I have read a few articles in Flimsies recently which include potential operators (should the railroad go private) as "American Heritage Railways and two others" or something similar.

OK, we all know and respct AHR as the professional tourist railroading powerhouse they are, but why don't we know who the other two possibilities are? Do they exist as more than corporate ectoplasm? Any other experienced tourist railroad operators worthy of serious consideration?

It really isn't my personal business, but I'm sure curious about that evasion of information in the media coverage. All the reporters couldn't have forgotten to ask, could they?

dave

[quote="Dave"]...I'm sure curious about that evasion of information in the media coverage. All the reporters couldn't have forgotten to ask, could they? [/quote]

Sure they could. The media is replete with members who fail to thoroughly report stuff.

Notwithstanding, we might speculate in the other direction. The current local efforts at creating the public entity to accept TSRR and its assets might very be conducted speficically with the particular named operator in mind..

Heh...

Notwithstanding, we might speculate in the other direction. The current local efforts at creating the public entity to accept TSRR and its assets might very well be conducted specifically with the particular named operator in mind..

If so, and I'm sure they can do a fine job of running it, why not simply say so and create a proposal to talk about accordingly? Seems to me, if a search has been done and the preferred qualified applicant selected, muddying the waters is to nobody's benefit when trying to get a general agreement on anything, much less the crossing of a cultural divide that is inherent in getting public sector people to think like private sector enterpreneurs.

Makes the whole thing come off as a bit shady, from my POV.

dave

I'll reply officially on this.

The entity that is planning to assume control of the property - the Texas State Railway Agency - put out an official RFQ through us and it is in play now, with a closing deadline of February 12. The RFQ document is on our website - www.stoneconsulting.com

This is an agency that has public authority and a public charter under the State of Texas, so a RFQ/RFP process is certainly in order and is required. Transfer of the property from Texas Parks and Wildlife to this locally chartered entity still keeps the railroad in the public domain, albeit with a private operator.

It's well publicized that AHR has been interested in the railroad. There are other parties that are interested as well, and you'll probably see a news story on that this week. Until the RFQ date is actually closed I'm not sure who is really proposing, and who is just investigating, so any commentary on who is or isn't actually proposing is innapropriate at this time.

Interesting quote from today's flimsies:

"For us who live in more rural parts of the state, state parks are economic development," McReynolds said. "We rural people want our parks funded. Period. It brings dollars to these areas."

No surprise to me. Rural Texas votes are red/republican votes (I know the quotee is a Democrat). Good luck cutting that pork.