We have been a little tough. But my thought from this is actually this is a case where more technical statements would have improved the interview. He had the opportunity on camera to really make a good presentation. Maybe he has much stronger command over the topic that I have given him credit for, but the interview doesn't show that. I don't think we should avoid technical language when speaking to the press or the public.

As previously mentioned, he has expert advice available in his own area. People who operate full size old school steam deal with much more complex issues than park engine technology - Crowns are relatively simple, designed to be easy to keep running. What I'm wondering about is why that wasn't the obvious place for him to start.

Aw, common guys. What appeared in the interview is totally the responsibility (fault?) of the reporter. The owner of the Crown may have given an excellent technical explanation, only to have it turned to mush by the reporter. It sounds like the only reason he talked to the press at all was to explain to the public why the train wasn't running over the long holiday, with a bit of "woe is me" thrown in for sympathy.

Years ago I watched Norm Krental give an interview to a local paper on the occasion of moving the Michigan Electric car body off the lot at Duck Lake, MI, where it had been a cottage for about forty years. The paper sent their "society editor", a young woman about seventeen, who went glassy eyed as Norman gave her the history of the interurban car starting about with Sprague's electrification of the Richmond street railway system. When the paper came out they sent Norm a copy... They had the car being pulled through the streets by cables suspended overhead...