645 posted:When current WMSR management came in 1309 work was well underway so best thing was to continue forward. If they had stopped all work and done a cosmetic reassembly it would not have been the best use of the money already spent. Plus 735 is not capable of handling the largest consists by herself during peak ridership periods which means a diesel helper / crew is required at extra expense. 1309 is to eliminate all that so the reasoning is sound there.
Current WMSR management is doing the best they can with available resources. It is easy for us to sit back and criticize them but please remember that Monday morning armchair quarterbacking is easy/obvious with the benefit of hindsight. During the WMSR photo freight charter this past Saturday I spoke with WMSR personnel including one of the management types who was along for the day and they all came across as being professional, realistic and working with what they have. Better times lie ahead for them!
Obviously, i don't have the numbers, but being in the financial field, I was skeptical of the project from the beginning. WMSR Management pointed to the advantage of not having to use a diesel, especially during the fall season.
However, I think the ROI of this project is likely VERY poor when compared to rebuilding and a 1472 on the 734, still using a diesel when necessary. With the recent problems, the ROI is even worse.
Yes, I admit I don't have the numbers and I am making many assumptions. Personally, I would love to see, hear, and ride behind 1309, but I haven't been able to see the long term business benefit. With that said, any thoughts?
