Bill M. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As someone who followed along on this restoration
> of 168 and the historic train, I really think
> this focus on nitpicking the lettering font is
> unfortunate and shortsighted. The fact is this is
> a most remarkable restoration that has been
> carefully researched and implemented. I saw the
> repairs done to the frame, and to be honest, I
> doubt anyone else could have performed this high
> level of restoration work. Even if the lettering
> might be improved, to focus on the lettering
> alone, ignores the incredible and accurate
> restoration work that went into this locomotive.
> And frankly, Stathi and his crew deserve all the
> credit in the world for this splendid locomotive
> that was raised from the dead!
> Bill M.
I don't feel that anyone "ignored" the quality of work. I think, rather, we're perhaps seeing a bit of recency bias in action. There have been numerous threads posted on this forum detailing the course of 168's overhaul which in most cases received numerous replies commenting on and showing appreciation for the quality of work being performed. Those threads merely aren't current like this one is, so the current comments stick out more in memory.
Criticism has its place in discussion. Detail criticism is not insulting and should not be treated as such. Take away the nit-picks and detail criticism and what you have left is rah-rah's and cheerleading. Without criticism nothing would ever improve. If the lettering proves a little tall, it's just paint and it'll be corrected whenever the engine comes in for a repaint. If everyone was happy to sit around and say nothing and never research anything it'd probably have been painted with red domes and a blue boiler and falsely passed off as "historic" like was so common during the bad old days of the postwar "Age of Ignorance" era.
Optionally, look at it this way: What's not being said can be as important as what is. The worst nit-pick is that the lettering might be less than perfect. Nobody's asking why it won't stay on the track or why the bearings always overheat or why it won't steam right or stay in time. Nobody asks that because nobody has to. That's something to be appreciative for because that's not always the case. I know of failed restorations done elsewhere where everyone involved desperately wished the lettering font was the most significant remaining issue.
