Re: Use it or loose it
| April 06, 2010 10:43AM |
|
John West Wrote:
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> Preservation needs a balance that preserves
> examples of the original fabric for future
> generations to study, but also in some cases the
> original fabric needs to be consumed and replaced
> so that the skills associated with the hard assets
> can also be preserved.
>
> What makes the C&TS (and every other operating
> steam railway) an important part of historic
> preservation are the skills that it it takes to
> run them. Those skills are far more perishable
> than the iron.
>
> JBWX
Right you are, John -
Williamsburg in Virginia and Ardenwood in California are so popular not because of their static exhibits, but because of their ACTIVE exhibits. How can a polyester-clothed teenager of today possibly appreciate a spinning wheel until she (or he) has attempted to spin some yarn? And how can visitor to Traveltown in Griffith Park possibly understand what a steam locomotive really is? You have to stand trackside as #2472 thunders by - even if only at 20 mph instead of 60 - to fully 'get it', or experience the shimmering crystals of snow from OY's plume filtering down the back of your neck ...
Photo by Ernie Robart, 01/12/74; sepia-toned by permission.
- Russo
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2010 11:57AM by Russo Loco.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Preservation needs a balance that preserves
> examples of the original fabric for future
> generations to study, but also in some cases the
> original fabric needs to be consumed and replaced
> so that the skills associated with the hard assets
> can also be preserved.
>
> What makes the C&TS (and every other operating
> steam railway) an important part of historic
> preservation are the skills that it it takes to
> run them. Those skills are far more perishable
> than the iron.
>
> JBWX
Right you are, John -
Williamsburg in Virginia and Ardenwood in California are so popular not because of their static exhibits, but because of their ACTIVE exhibits. How can a polyester-clothed teenager of today possibly appreciate a spinning wheel until she (or he) has attempted to spin some yarn? And how can visitor to Traveltown in Griffith Park possibly understand what a steam locomotive really is? You have to stand trackside as #2472 thunders by - even if only at 20 mph instead of 60 - to fully 'get it', or experience the shimmering crystals of snow from OY's plume filtering down the back of your neck ...
Photo by Ernie Robart, 01/12/74; sepia-toned by permission.
- Russo
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2010 11:57AM by Russo Loco.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.