Contracts, budgets approved to keep V&T operation on track

The Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau has approved the necessary contracts and budget items to ensure the operation of the V&T Railroad this summer.

The budget is based on an estimated $430,503 in operating income plus another $67,250 in donations, intergovernmental and donation revenue. It projects $605,945 in expenses.

That is a loss of $108,192 for the standard season. But CVB Director Candy Duncan said the loss is more than made up in the Polar Express budget, which is expected to make a $164,132 profit.

The net result is a $56,000 profit for the year.

The board was told the season for the steam trains will run from May 26-Oct. 21. For the diesel trains, it's June 15-Aug.31.

A total of 44 steam train runs are planned along with nine runs down the canyon. Diesel trains will run 12 trains plus special runs on Mother's Day, Fourth of July and one for the hospital auxiliary.

The Polar Express will feature 45 train runs.

The largest single contract is the train services agreement with Tom Gray, who runs and maintains the trains. That contract is a total of $339,975 for the year.

Dwight Millard, a CVB member and chairman of the V&T Railroad Commission, said that in the future the board needs to discuss making that contract multi-year so that the Gray family has some assurance their purchases and expenditures to improve and expand the trains aren't in vain. Right now, he said, the board could decide to drop its contract with the Grays next year.

"It's not fair to him," Millard said. "The board needs to start thinking about a five-year contract to run the train."

The budget also includes $85,000 in advertising and promotion, $84,000 to run the train depot as well as a variety of overhead expenses.