Tim,
I don't know you but your post proves to me that you are a pinhead! (I have much stronger words for you but I doubt they are acceptable for a public forum!)
Marlin is not a crook, check with some other steam locomotive professionals and you will find that Marlin charged a fair price for the work he did. I have ben involved in many projects with Marlin and have found him to be very honest and straightforward. He does what he says he will do for the price he said he will do it for, period. Like all of us he is not perfect but I have never seen him intentionally try to decive anyone. I have a great deal of respect for the man and it pisses me off to no end to see people such as yourself, who have probably never met hime, have nothing to do with the Georgetown Loop and have most certainly never run or worked on the locomotive in question decide that you know every thing and feel free to trash whomever you please.
There are many factors that led #9 to where it is today. I know it is fun to sit at home and be outraged, but none of the most vocal critics on this board were actual participants in all of the events that have led us to where we are now and therefore do do not have the information needed to make an accurate assesment of the situation. Those who do realize that working to solve the problems is a more productive use of their time than ranting and raving on the internet and slandering anyone and everyone who they think is not on the "right" side of the issue.
Tim, you owe Marlin an apology right now and it needs to be as public and as strong as your slandering him was!
Jason Midyette