When posting a Brief or a message to Interchange about a steam locomotive, please work into your text an identification of the locomotive by wheel arrangement (4-8-4, etc.) or common type name (Northern, not just Class J). In the year that I have been enjoying RYPN, I have noticed that this easily recognized point of reference often in missing.

Visiting the RYPN site are three generations of people who care about railway preservation. They live throughout the world. Reference to a locomotive by its number assumes a familiarity that in fact may not be shared by most, let alone all.

Growing up in the American Middle West and living in the East, I have been a railfan since the 1950's. However, as an example, the RYPN brief about Southern Pacific #2479 in San Jose, CA, left me clueless as to whether I should envision a Mogul, a Pacific, or what. Of course, I know that 611 refers to an exquisite Norfolk and Western streamlined 4-8-4 Northern, but I can easily see how some RYPN reader of another generation in another region would not know that.

We always will need new blood. To that end, "speaking in tongues" does provide a mystique that attracts the curious with an affinity for the rails --, but _only_ if not totally indecipherable. Please, try to give one clue that everybody can pick up. Thanks.

ebt4evr@aol.com

However, as an example,
> the RYPN brief about Southern Pacific #2479
> in San Jose, CA, left me clueless as to
> whether I should envision a Mogul, a
> Pacific, or what.

Actually I did insert the phrase "SP Pacific"(meaning the wheel arrangement) into the press release before putting up the Brief, but the pint is a good one: in context 4-6-2 would certainly have been more clear.

eledbetter@mail.rypn.org

In addition to RyPN (see 2/6/01 brief), this particular press release was issued to our local media; thus requiring simple language. Anything beyond the term "steam locomotive" eg. 4-6-2, Pacific etc would have been confusing to our Silicon Valley non-railfan media. Like similar organizations, CTRC seeks publicity of our activities. The largest (and wealthiest) untapped supporter base are not railfans but individuals intrigued by preservation efforts.

Thanks Erik for the RyPN editorial license!

Regards,
Ken Middlebrook
California Trolley and Railroad Corporation



ken.middlebrook@nsc.com

Guilty as charged. In previous posting a "light mike" is a 2-8-2 of WWI vintage like Southern 4501. A light pacific is a high wheeled passenger engine of similar age, 4-6-2, the most beautiful examples of which are the FEC Alcos (prejudiced) like 113, 153, 750, 148, et al. Heavier versions of both were produced for heavier work.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

I'm still waiting for the UP light Pacific 3200 class (ORN 197)to come out of the Brooklyn roundhouse. Perhaps we'll have a new class of "beautiful" 4-6-2's!


shawsinoly@msn.com