Dear Mr. Markoff,
Let me start by apologizing to you as I did not intend to anger you in any way shape or form, and for doing so I am very sorry.
I was writing based off of my limited knowledge. I didn't know for sure about the side rods' origins and I don't like spreading false information. I do thank you for telling me about the serial numbers being intact and I have made note of it.
I was in not trying to make my self seem like more of an authority on the Eureka that you, which by your response seems to be my mistake, I was writing about what I was thinking based on what I knew. I fully respect the fact that you are among the people in the world who know more about that class (8-18-C) of engines that I do. And I will never forget the fact that you know more about that particular engine that anyone alive.
In my defense, I will say that I have spent thousands of hours pouring over the Sonoma, her blueprints, CSRM drawings, field notes from modelers, and hundreds of photos. I have spent an equal amount of time, if not greater, looking over blueprints and photos of other engines of other classes that were built in the same time period. I could design an 8-18-C, 8-20-D, 10-24-E, etc... from the ground up from memory and have it be near perfect. I have a 3D CAD model of just about every part of the Sonoma, which I made from my extensive research, and have assembled most of those parts into a "working" model. I understand the design, concept and purposes of just about everything on those early narrow gauge engines. The only thing I haven't done is take one apart, put it back together and run it. In that, your knowledge is superior to mine and I will defer to you.
I have no choice but to say that the side rods on the Eureka are original and I was wrong in thinking otherwise.
My sincerest apologies,
Curtis S. Ferrington
