Re: "Nobody in their right mind is going to build a from-scratch 3' line these days."

While I feel old as dirt (well, except next to Russo) now that I've earned a wood-laminated piece of stationary to mount on my wall, I'd still like to think I'm still youthful enough to consider myself among the younger generation into this steam-powered flange-wheeled stuff. And in encountering many like persons, I can confidently say you all have nothing to fear--few of us are in our right mind!

But until one of us nutcrackers can rebuild the old West Side up from the new Mi-Wuk casino; or survey the proposed Niles Canyon Railway mountain division; or throw down a dime of track snaking from Santa Margarita up the backside of Cuesta Grade; or lay a third rail down Beach Street in Santa Cruz and run Shay-powered dinner trains up the coast to Davenport, be glad these sterling sidewinders are in the best hands they could ask for. Seriously, who wouldn't want Phil Reader looking after their Shay? (And he's not even getting paid!) I've known the man for years; he can put one to bed Sunday, get the engine set on the shop crane Monday and have it repaired and back in service that Saturday. Plus I've heard nothing but praises for "Big Phil" and the other current stewards of the GLRR Inc. collection.

So anyone thinking any engine in Golden without Rio Grande on the tender is destined to diminish into a tetanic hulk of iron oxide, relax your slacks--those Shays are among the few Californians it seems Coloradans actually like

Playfully chiding,
Russo in 40 years