We have had this conversation several times in the past - collections used for operating which may be altered as necessary, and collections conserved hermetically sealed under glass, lots of in between.

Some stuff can't be interpreted statically - and provided we conserve good examplars, interpretation through use is what will attract interest and support.

I have wondered for a long time about conserving paintings - light fades them, but you can't see them in the dark. What's a museum to do?

dave

The Star Spangled Banner flag at the Smithsonian is going to be stored in the dark and only revealed to audiences once an hour for 5 minutes.

Folks,

There is another Fred Fellows conversion like the one in San Pedro that is not in the Orange Empire Collection.

that one is getting the proper under the floor trucks, compressor etc to turn it back into a rail vehicle.

I don't have the number right a hand. That is historic preservation!

Ted Miles

Except for the lack of trolley poles on the roofs, the interurban cars we will be outfitting to be "self-propelled", will look pretty much like they did while running in service. Which, due to the lack of overhead wires, or an operation with overhead wires in thier home state, should be better for folks to see these cars running, rather than sitting rotting away.

Well said, Steve. Unfortunately, there are many more pieces of historic equipment around than there are resources or interested parties available for conservation and restoration. I can think, offhand, of 10 interurban cars or carbodies that are likely to be eventually scrapped as their current owners do not apparently have any interest in conserving, let alone restoring, these cars.

By the way, you mentioned two cars from Texas that you are using for conversion to self propelled cars. Have you lined up cars to use for the remaining three in the order?

I would tend to agree. While what Edwards is doing to the interurban cars in question may not be "preservation" in the strictest sense, it is by no means the worst fate that is likely to befall these cars and is probably about as good a use for them as can be found. I would also note that neither car is the only example of its type preserved; identical cars to both are not only preserved but are (or are being) restored to their in-service configurations.

I would add another question for Steve to Art's above, namely: where are the MCB trucks you mentioned in an earlier post coming from?

An ineresting proposition, I'd say. I'd have my FRA status firmly established before I started too far down the road, er... track. "Historic" goes only so far with the FRA. As Sandy says, the FRA clearly has signaled intent to get at least partially involved when highway crossings and navigatable waterways get involved. Norfolk isn't Cheat Mountain. I wish the Edwards folks only the best.