Narrow Gauge Railroad Discussion Forum

Bill,
Thanks for your kind words.
I think the divide is that the people who are railfans or model railroaders see the railroad as "product" while the people who work on the railroad (for pay) see the railroad as "process". Im not sure where to place the volunteers as regards these categories, but I am interested in their perspective.

Im not a big "splinter of the true cross" type when it comes to "historic Fabric". Oak is oak, fir is fir and steel is steel. An operational rotary in operation tells you a lot more about the railroad of the past than one stuffed and mounted or allowed to just rot away. Having said that I dont think that every locomotive should be restored and run on Cumbres Pass. I personally feel that kept painted and weather tight the bridge in the Black Canyon is an excellent place to display the 278. It is protected from vandals and is shown in context.

As regards the #20 I can only say that Im green with envy that Linn is getting to work on it and Im sure that when it is done and has done a months hard work the soul of the #20 that his dad and Bob Richardson and the others captured in those photos from the 30s and 40s will still be evident.

Generally, fix em the way they used to fix em , then run em the way they used to run em, then do it again.

Anyway those are my feelings on the subject.

John Bush